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Cyprus Credit Servicers Manage €9.3 Billion In Household Loans As NPL Ratio Stays Near 95%

Cyprus’ credit servicers and credit acquiring companies continued to shoulder one of the most distressed corners of the island’s financial system, managing a combined loan portfolio of €19.28 billion at the end of June 2026, according to data published by the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC).

Households Remain The Largest Exposure

The latest aggregate figures, which cover the credit servicers and credit acquiring companies sector as of June 30, 2026, show that household debt remains the dominant component of the portfolio. Loans linked to households totalled €9.345 billion, while non-financial corporations accounted for €9.205 billion. A further €726 million was tied to other financial corporations.

The scale of those exposures underscores the role these firms play in Cyprus’ post-crisis loan resolution landscape, where large volumes of distressed debt have been transferred out of the banking system and into specialised management vehicles.

Npl Ratio Holds At Elevated Levels

The sector’s non-performing loan ratio stood at 94.6 per cent at the end of June, virtually unchanged from March 2026. In practical terms, that means the portfolio remains overwhelmingly composed of loans in distress, highlighting the challenge credit servicers continue to face in collections, restructurings and recoveries.

The net book value of the portfolio was €2.671 billion at the end of the quarter. The gap between the contractual balance and the net book value reflects valuation adjustments and accounting treatments applied to these loan books.

Borrower Base Concentrated In Households

The total number of borrowers managed by the sector reached 62,771 at the end of June. Households made up the clear majority, with 53,494 borrowers. Non-financial corporations accounted for 9,214 borrowers, while other financial corporations represented 63 borrowers.

That concentration reinforces a broader pattern in Cyprus’ distressed credit market: household balance sheets remain central to the work of the sector, even as corporate exposures continue to account for a substantial share of the total outstanding balance.

Property Holdings Decline In The Second Quarter

Credit acquiring companies also reduced their property holdings during the second quarter. The number of properties on their books fell to 7,714 at the end of June from 8,014 in March, a decline of 300 properties over three months.

The open market value of those assets moved lower as well, dropping from €968 million in March to €918 million in June. The €50 million decline, or roughly 5.2 per cent, suggests a continued drawdown in real estate assets linked to distressed loan portfolios.

A Clearer View Of Cyprus’ Distressed Asset Market

The Central Bank’s latest data offer another snapshot of a sector that remains central to Cyprus’ handling of bad loans and collateral recovery. With nearly €19.3 billion in loan portfolios, an NPL ratio still close to 95 per cent and thousands of properties held as part of the resolution process, credit servicers and credit acquiring companies remain key players in the country’s broader financial cleanup effort.

Cyprus Business Electricity Prices Rank Among The EU’s Highest

Electricity prices for a defined group of non-household consumers in Cyprus reached €0.23 per kilowatt-hour in the first half of 2026, placing the country among the most expensive in the EU, according to Eurostat.

The rate matched Italy and exceeded the EU average of €0.18. Ireland recorded the highest price at €0.27 per kilowatt-hour.

The figures cover non-household consumers with annual electricity consumption of between 500 and 2,000 megawatt-hours, rather than all businesses or households.

EU Electricity Prices Continued To Fall

Across the EU, average prices for this consumer group declined by 2% compared with the second half of 2025 and were 5.4% lower year on year.

The lowest rates were recorded in Finland (€0.09 per kWh) and Sweden (€0.12), followed by Denmark, Spain and Portugal, all at €0.13.

Prices Fell In Most Member States

Electricity prices declined year on year in 19 EU countries during the first half of 2026. Luxembourg recorded the largest fall, at 23.8%, followed by Czechia (11.9%) and Greece (11.8%).

Prices increased in eight member states, led by Sweden (18.8%), Finland (18.7%) and Bulgaria (14.2%). Despite the sharp increases, Finland and Sweden continued to have the lowest electricity prices in the bloc.

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