Bank Of Cyprus Invests €6 Million In Wealthyhood Fintech Platform

Strong Financial Outlook And Strategic Expansion

Bank of Cyprus (BoC) has reaffirmed its commitment to robust growth and operational excellence through updated financial targets and capital allocation plans. The bank’s recent investor presentation highlighted its strengthened operating performance and disciplined balance sheet, paving the way for sustained profitability and strategic investments.

Strategic Investment In Wealthyhood

GlobalWealth Group PLC confirmed that Bank of Cyprus will invest €6 million in fintech company Wealthyhood Ltd. The investment will make the bank a strategic partner in the platform.

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Wealthyhood develops digital investment tools designed to make investing more accessible through AI-supported portfolio management. The company currently operates in the United Kingdom and Greece and plans to expand to additional European markets.

Enhanced Capital Allocation And Growth Prospects

Bank of Cyprus expects a mid-teens reported Return on Tangible Equity for the 2026–2028 period. Based on a 15% CET1 ratio, this corresponds to a return above 20%. The outlook assumes a net interest margin above 270 basis points in 2026 as interest rates normalize. Growth in the loan book and fixed income portfolio is expected to support these projections. The bank also targets organic capital generation of 350 to 400 basis points annually during the period.

Optimized Dividend Strategy And Cost Discipline

The bank plans to distribute up to 90% of adjusted recurring profitability in 2026, with the potential to increase the payout to 100% in subsequent years. Distributions may include both ordinary dividends and additional payouts. Management also targets a cost-to-income ratio of around 40% and a normalized cost of risk between 40 and 50 basis points.

Investor Confidence And Future Growth

The Wealthyhood investment forms part of the bank’s broader strategy to expand digital financial services alongside its traditional banking activities. Bank of Cyprus and GlobalWealth Group will remain operationally independent while exploring opportunities for collaboration in Cyprus and other European markets.

Conclusion

With a strategic capital infusion and a clear focus on sustainable profitability, Bank of Cyprus is well-positioned to deliver robust shareholder returns. This development reflects a broader industry trend where traditional financial institutions are increasingly turning to fintech partnerships to drive digital transformation and enhance their competitive edge.

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Cyprus Strengthens Its Case As A European Chess Hub After FIDE President’s Visit

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

October 20, 2026

Cyprus is sharpening its position on the European chess map, with the island’s rising profile now drawing attention at the highest levels of the sport.

Fide Leadership Backs Cyprus’ Chess Ambitions

International Chess Federation (FIDE) president Timur Turlov, who also leads Freedom Holding Corp and Freedom24, met President Nikos Christodoulides at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia on Monday to discuss the future of chess development in Cyprus. The talks centered on the island’s growing importance in European chess and the momentum built since Freedom became general partner of the Cyprus Chess Federation in 2023.

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“In three years, Cyprus has become one of Europe’s chess hubs, and we want to keep building on that,” Turlov said. “It was important for us to present our plans for chess on the island to the President, and we are grateful for his time and attention to the game.”

A Broader Strategy For Growth

Turlov was elected FIDE president on September 26 at the federation’s congress in Samarkand. His 2027–2030 programme calls for roughly €30 million in funding over four years to support global chess development, including an annual development fund of €6.2 million, nearly four times the current budget.

The proposed funding is designed to expand competition opportunities, strengthen youth development, improve chess education, support coaches and arbiters, accelerate digital tools, and promote women’s chess.

Cyprus Has Become A Proven Host For Major Events

Since Freedom became the federation’s general partner in 2023, Cyprus has hosted 26 tournaments, including stages of the FIDE Women’s World Grand Prix in Nicosia in 2023 and 2025. The island also welcomed the 2026 Candidates Tournament, which featured a €1 million prize fund and brought top international players to Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort.

For Cyprus, that event carried symbolic weight. It was the first time in the country’s chess history that the world’s leading contenders had competed on the island, underscoring its emergence as a credible destination for elite international chess.

Building A Pipeline For The Next Generation

The local ecosystem is also expanding at the grassroots level. The Freedom24 Chess Academy opened in Limassol on March 1, 2025, under the leadership of International Master Artem Sadovsky. Its mission is to develop competitive players capable of representing Cyprus on the international stage.

According to the Cyprus Chess Federation, around 2,000 people in Cyprus now play chess actively, most of them children. That matters: a sustainable chess economy, like any successful sports ecosystem, depends not only on marquee tournaments but also on a steady pipeline of young talent, coaching infrastructure and institutional support.

As Cyprus continues to invest in the game, it is increasingly positioning itself not just as a host nation, but as a serious contributor to the future of European chess.

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