Cyprus Mortgage Rates Surge As Eurozone Trend Diverges

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

February 13, 2025

The Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) has released data for December 2024, revealing a rise in mortgage and corporate loan interest rates, while household deposit rates also climbed. In contrast, the eurozone saw a downward trend, highlighting a growing divergence in financial conditions.

Key Takeaways

Mortgage rates up: Average housing loan rates in Cyprus hit 4.75%, rising from 4.50% in November, while eurozone rates dropped to 4.15%.
Corporate loans mixed: Smaller business loans slightly increased to 5.14%, while large corporate loans over €1 million declined to 4.70%.
Deposits yield more: Household deposit rates climbed to 1.78%, but corporate deposit rates fell to 1.74%.

Mortgage Rates: Cyprus Outpaces Eurozone

New housing loans in Cyprus became more expensive, averaging 4.75% in December, well above the eurozone’s 4.15%. Societe Generale offered the highest rate at 6.60%, while the lowest came from Housing Finance Corporation at 3.32%. Other key players included the Bank of Cyprus (5.35%), Astrobank (4.30%), and Hellenic Bank (4.27%).

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Corporate Loans: Small Business Borrowing Costs Rise

For new business loans under €1 million, interest rates increased slightly to 5.14%. The highest rate was 7.28% (Banque SBA), while the lowest was 4.66% (Hellenic Bank). Notably, Ancoria raised its rate by 0.83%, while most banks saw minor reductions.

For larger corporate loans exceeding €1 million, the average rate dropped significantly from 5.63% to 4.70%. Societe Generale charged the highest rate (6.07%), while Eurobank offered the lowest at 4.12%.

Deposits: A Mixed Picture

Household deposit rates rose to 1.78%, with Arab Jordan Investment Bank leading at 3%. However, corporate deposit rates declined to 1.74%, with the National Bank of Greece offering the highest at 2.38% and the Housing Finance Corporation the lowest at 0.52%.

What’s Next?

The rise in Cyprus’ interest rates signals tighter financial conditions compared to the eurozone, potentially impacting homebuyers and businesses seeking credit. Meanwhile, higher household deposit rates could offer better returns for savers. As 2025 unfolds, all eyes will be on the CBC’s next moves and how they align with broader European trends.

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Cyprus Posts €573.3M Fiscal Surplus In Q1 2026

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

May 4, 2026

Robust Fiscal Health Marks Strong Start To 2026

The Cyprus government has reported a fiscal surplus of €573.3 million in the first quarter of 2026, according to preliminary figures from the Cyprus Statistical Service. This healthy surplus, which accounts for 1.5% of the nation’s GDP, reflects a slight decrease from the €600.60 million surplus (1.6% of GDP) recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.

Revenue Growth: A Detailed Break Down

Total revenue surged by €194.00 million, or 5.4%, reaching €3.81 billion compared with €3.61 billion during the same quarter last year. Key components of this growth include:

Income and wealth taxes increased by €107.80 million (10.9%), amounting to €1.09 billion.
Social contributions rose by €86.00 million (7.3%) to €1.26 billion.
Taxes on production and imports grew by €31.50 million (2.9%), totaling €1.12 billion.
Net VAT revenue climbed by €34.60 million (4.8%), reaching €758.80 million.
Capital transfers, though modest, increased by €0.60 million (13.6%) to €5.00 million.

Expenditure Shifts And Sectoral Variances

Despite robust revenue, the governmental expenditure also increased notably by €221.30 million (7.3%) to €3.23 billion. Noteworthy changes include:

Intermediate consumption grew by €25.60 million (9.2%), reaching €303.70 million.
Compensation of employees, including social contributions and civil service pensions, rose by €23.00 million (2.4%) to €974.80 million.
Social benefits experienced an increase of €82.30 million (6.4%), climbing to €1.36 billion.
Interest payments surged by €29.90 million (41.1%), totaling €102.70 million.
Current transfers saw a significant uptick of €58.80 million (31.6%), reaching €245.00 million.
Other fiscal components, such as the capital account and gross capital formation, also recorded modest improvements.
However, some areas experienced a decline with property income falling by €3.30 million (17.5%) and revenue from the sale of goods and services dropping by €19.00 million (7.2%).
Subsidies were reduced by €3.90 million (19.5%), totaling €16.10 million compared to the previous period.

Strategic Implications For The Cypriot Economy

Overall, the data indicate concurrent growth in both revenue and expenditure during the quarter. Higher tax income and social contributions supported revenue performance, while increased spending on social benefits, transfers, and interest payments contributed to the rise in expenditure.

Outlook

As the fiscal year progresses, the balance between revenue growth and expenditure levels will remain central to maintaining a surplus. Future outcomes will depend on how these trends evolve across both sides of the budget.

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