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Banks in Greece and Cyprus are significantly increasing their lending activity, with total credit expansion expected to reach or even surpass €15 billion this year, reinforcing both banking sector profitability and wider economic growth. According to figures published by Greek business outlet Newmoney, credit expansion has now emerged as the key engine of sustainable profitability for banks, while simultaneously supporting broader economic activity. The banking sector appea

Cyprus’ housing market is increasingly showing signs of renewed strain, with both residential property prices and rental costs rising at a pace that exceeds the European Union average, even though Cypriot households continue to experience a lower overall housing cost burden than many other European countries. According to newly released Eurostat data drawn from the institution’s Housing Dashboard and its Housing in Europe 2025 publication, the island presents a complex and un

Christodoulos Patsalides, governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC), has indicated that the European Central Bank (ECB) is becoming increasingly likely to raise interest rates in June as inflation risks continue to intensify across the eurozone. Speaking in an interview with financial news agency MNI, later cited by Bloomberg, Patsalides said deteriorating economic conditions, rising oil prices and heightened geopolitical uncertainty are placing additional pressure on in

The credit rating agency Fitch Ratings reaffirmed Cyprus’s long-term foreign currency issuer default rating at “A-” with a positive outlook on Friday evening, citing the country’s strong fiscal performance, solid economic fundamentals, and the policy credibility stemming from its membership in the European Union and the Eurozone. According to the American agency, Cyprus’s rating reflects “the level of per capital income above the ‘A’ average, the strong fiscal results and

Industrial producer prices in Cyprus moved lower in March 2026, according to the latest figures released by Eurostat, standing in contrast to significant increases recorded across both the euro area and the wider European Union. Data released by Eurostat showed that industrial producer prices in Cyprus fell by 1.3 per cent in March compared with February 2026. The decline reversed the 0.2 per cent increase registered in February and followed the 0.6 per cent drop recorded i

The National Bank of Greece (NBG) has reported operating profits of €23.6 million in Cyprus for 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 39 per cent as the bank continues to expand its presence and lending activity in the Cypriot market. In its announcement, the bank said it “records, for yet another year, a strong growth trajectory, confirming the consistent implementation of its strategy and its active role in supporting the economy”. According to the institution,

A notable escalation in distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks is increasingly exposing Cyprus’ banking, payments, and iGaming sectors to heightened cyber risk, according to new findings published by cybersecurity firm Qrator Labs. The company’s Q1 2026 report indicates that these industries—core pillars of the island’s digital economy—are among the most frequently targeted sectors on a global scale. The data shows that banking institutions accounted for 22.8% of all re

Cyprus emerged as one of the strongest fiscal performers in the European Union in 2025, according to data released by Eurostat, achieving a budget surplus at a time when most member states continued to run deficits. The figures indicate that Cyprus was among a small group of countries to record a government surplus, reaching 3.4 per cent of GDP. It joined Denmark at 2.9 per cent, Ireland at 1.8 per cent, Greece at 1.7 per cent and Portugal at 0.7 per cent, standing in clear c

The Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) has indicated that deposit rates in Cyprus remain below those observed across the eurozone, even as lending rates present a more mixed picture across different categories. According to the CBC’s latest data, the average interest rate for new housing loans in Cyprus stood at 3.04 per cent in February, compared with a higher eurozone average of 3.41 per cent. For household deposits with a maturity of up to one year, the average rate reached 1.

The Bank of Cyprus announced on Wednesday that its board of directors has formally approved the annual financial report for the year ending December 31, 2025, reaffirming a year marked by solid profitability, sustained lending expansion and a strong capital base. The report incorporates the audited financial statements of the Bank of Cyprus Group, which includes the holding company, Bank of Cyprus Public Company Limited and its subsidiaries. The full annual financial report h

Cyprus registered a further drop in unemployment in February 2026, even as joblessness across the euro area edged higher on a monthly basis, according to newly released data from Eurostat. The figures showed that Cyprus’ unemployment rate fell to 4.20 per cent in February 2026, compared with 4.50 per cent in the same month a year earlier, highlighting continued strengthening in the country’s labour market. In absolute terms, the number of unemployed individuals declined to

The introduction of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) is transforming Europe’s digital asset landscape while simultaneously bringing new regulatory complexities to the surface, according to George Theocharides, chairman of the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission. Writing in an article originally published in Eurofi magazine, Theocharides characterised MiCA as a fundamental turning point for the European crypto-asset market. He explained that an industry w

Cyprus continues to rank near the bottom among European Union member states in terms of road freight transport share in 2024, underlining the country’s ongoing dependence on maritime logistics. Data released by Eurostat shows that Cyprus recorded a road freight share of 3.5 per cent in 2024, reflecting a modest rise from 3.4 per cent in 2023 and 2.7 per cent in 2022. Despite this incremental growth, the country still placed third from the lowest within the EU, excluding Malta

Bank of Cyprus has reached an agreement with Cyprus Development Bank for the acquisition of a portfolio comprising performing loans, deposits, and other assets and liabilities, with the transaction reportedly taking place at a price close to the nominal value of the assets. Under the terms of the agreement, the portfolio includes performing loans of approximately €150 million and deposits of roughly €500 million, based on a reference date of December 31, 2025. The move forms

The euro area recorded a trade deficit of €1.9 billion in January 2026, according to data from Eurostat, while Cyprus posted a notably improved trade balance over the same period. The deficit for the euro area widened from €1.40 billion in January 2025, reflecting shifts in trade dynamics across key sectors. Exports fell to €215.30 billion in January 2026, down 7.6 percent from €232.90 billion a year earlier, while imports also declined to €217.20 billion, a drop of 7.3 perce

National Bank of Greece has announced the successful completion of the Etalia B transaction, involving the sale of non-performing exposures. The deal concerns a portfolio of non-performing loans with €0.1 billion in outstanding principal, representing a further step in the bank’s ongoing efforts to streamline its balance sheet. The portfolio was transferred to Creditable Opportunities Fund SCA SICAV-RAIF, an acquisition vehicle affiliated with the EOS Group, while management

Bank of Cyprus has confirmed the schedule for reviewing its audited financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2025, alongside publishing an updated financial calendar for 2026 that outlines key reporting and shareholder-related dates. The bank stated that its board of directors will meet on March 30, 2026, to assess the audited financial statements of the Bank of Cyprus Group, marking a critical step ahead of the official disclosure of results. According to the an

High concentration in banking markets delays the speed at which central bank interest rate changes reach consumers and businesses, according to a study released by the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) on Tuesday. The study, authored by Aris Avgousti and Stephani Michael of the centre for strategy and policy production, revealed that banking concentration and monetary policy transmission remain intrinsically linked, with more concentrated markets exhibiting a weaker and slower pas

An administrative penalty has been imposed by the Consumer Protection Service (CPS) on Alpha Bank Cyprus for the inclusion of abusive clauses in mortgage loan agreements concluded with consumers. The decision, dated 9 March 2026, stipulates the imposition of a €160,000 fine and requires the bank to immediately discontinue the use of the specific contractual provisions. The sanction forms part of a wider ex officio investigation conducted by the Consumer Protection Service int

OPAP reported gross gaming revenue (GGR) of €2,407.9 million for the full year 2025, marking a 4.9% increase compared with the previous year and setting a new record for the Greek gaming operator. The milestone was largely supported by continued expansion in online gaming alongside solid performance from the company’s retail operations. However, a significant increase in operating expenses during the year placed pressure on profitability, reducing EBITDA margins and slightly