Philenews

The Cypriot Banking System in Recent History

Published March 16, 2026, 10:16
The Cypriot Banking System in Recent History

The Cypriot banking system has undergone significant changes in the last 15 years, from periods of euphoria and excessive credit expansion to a period of contraction, bank closures, and high non-performing loans. The 2013 crisis and the guidance of the Troika led to a restructuring of the system, with the sale of Cypriot banks' operations in Greece and the closure of Laiki Bank. The sale of bad loans and the closure of the Cooperative Bank in 2018 played a significant role in stabilizing the system, with the transfer of healthy loans and deposits to Hellenic Bank and the assumption of bad loans by KEDIPES. The reduction of non-performing loans (NPLs) was significant, but a large part of it is due to the sale of NPLs to non-bank companies. The period after 2022 is characterized by new challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and geopolitical tensions. Also, bank acquisitions were observed, such as the acquisition of Hellenic Bank by Eurobank and Astro Bank by Alpha Bank. The analysis highlights the need for continuous supervision and changes in the regulations of bank operations, as well as addressing the problems arising from established practices and bureaucracy in the Public Service.