Cypriot Banking Sector Profitability Falls 23.6% In Q1 2026

Profitability in Cyprus’ banking sector declined by 23.6% in the first quarter of 2026, according to consolidated data released by the Central Bank of Cyprus. The figures, covering the period to March 31, 2026, provide an overview of the sector’s earnings, balance sheet developments and capital adequacy.

Net profit fell by €62 million to €202 million, compared with €264 million in the corresponding period of 2025. According to the Central Bank, the decline primarily reflects lower net interest income and losses related to foreign exchange movements.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Increase In Total Assets

Balance sheet size continued to expand during the quarter. Total assets increased by €274 million, or 0.4%, to €70.235 billion, compared with €69.961 billion at the end of December 2025. Growth in assets was mainly driven by increases in loans and advances, as well as holdings of debt securities.

Decline In CET1 Ratio

The sector’s Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio declined by 0.7 percentage points to 25.1% at the end of March 2026, from 25.8% three months earlier. Rising risk exposure offset improvements in capital levels, contributing to the decrease in the ratio. Despite lower profitability, capital buffers remained strong. A CET1 ratio of 25.1% indicates that Cyprus’ banking sector continues to maintain high levels of capital adequacy.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Reddit Tests TikTok-Style Video And Audio For Popular Posts

by News Editor

August 18, 2026

Reddit is testing new ways to consume its most popular posts, including video and audio formats inspired by how Reddit stories are already shared on platforms such as TikTok and Meta’s Reels.

The experiment began Monday across selected communities. Reddit says the early test will help determine which formats users prefer and whether they can eventually be expanded more widely.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

From Reddit Threads To Narrated Videos

The idea was first discussed during Reddit’s second-quarter earnings call in July. CEO Steve Huffman noted that popular Reddit stories are already being turned into narrated videos on other platforms, often using text-to-speech or creators reading posts aloud alongside unrelated footage.

Reddit now wants to bring that experience directly to its own platform. Users participating in the test can choose whether to “read” or “play” eligible posts.

Audio could allow people to listen to Reddit while exercising, walking or doing other activities, while video could make written conversations more engaging.

Original Posts Will Remain

The initial test is limited to selected English-language posts and is available through Reddit’s iOS and Android apps. The original posts and their comments will remain available, meaning the new formats will complement rather than replace Reddit’s traditional experience.

The company is also evaluating whether these formats can be introduced without losing the character of Reddit’s text-based communities.

Reddit Has Tested Video Before

The latest experiment builds on Reddit’s earlier attempts to expand beyond text. The company introduced native video hosting in 2017 and later tested a TikTok-style video feed.

More recently, Reddit introduced video in comments, which the company says now accounts for more than 10% of video posts on the platform.

The new test is another step in Reddit’s effort to make its content more accessible in different formats while competing for attention in an increasingly video-focused social media market.

Breaking news