The Hellenic Post S.A. (, abbreviated ΕΛΤΑ, ELTA) is the state-owned provider of postal services in Greece. It succeeded the former government Postal Service, founded in 1828. ELTA provides a universal postal service to all parts of Greece and is a member of the Universal Postal Union. Services provided include: letter post; parcel service; deposit accounts; Swiftpost, a nationwide next-day delivery service; and the EMS international express mail service.
History
Hellenic Post was founded in 1828 along with the modern Greek state. Since 1996 it has been operating as a public limited company owned by the state.
In 1834 an agreement with French banker Francois Feraldi ensured mail service to and from the Greek islands, and in 1836 placed the first wagons for transporting mail between Athens and Piraeus.
In 1860 the law on stamps came into force, and the first Greek postage stamp was printed at the Paris Mint, symbolically the head of Hermes.
In 1869 ELTA started using the Greek railway system, and in 1874 it was one of the founding members in the Universal Postal Union established in Bern.
In 1892 telephone services were added to the responsibilities of the post.
In 1909 the company inaugurated the rural postal service, which for remained for decades the sole means of communication for farmers in difficult to reach rural areas.