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Bank Of Cyprus Crowned Best Foreign Exchange Bank In Cyprus For Digital Innovation

Recognizing Digital Leadership In FX Services

The Bank of Cyprus (BoC) has been distinguished as the ‘Best Foreign Exchange Bank in Cyprus’ at Global Finance’s prestigious Gordon Platt Foreign Exchange Awards. This accolade underscores BoC’s unwavering commitment to advancing digital foreign exchange services and exceptional client support.

Innovative Approach And Market Impact

Global Finance based its decision on robust metrics including transaction volume, market share, global outreach, competitive pricing, and customer service excellence. Evaluations blended quantitative data with expert insights from respected analysts, corporate executives, and technology specialists. The bank’s dynamic digital upgrade, particularly through its cutting-edge BOC eFX Convert platform, has been pivotal in capturing a broader client base. Notably, 2025 has witnessed a significant upsurge in user numbers and transaction volumes, with both established corporate clients and emerging organizations drawn to the platform’s superior performance.

Tailored Financial Solutions For Business And Retail

BoC remains the island’s exclusive provider of real-time currency conversion services. Its comprehensive strategy for business clients features live pricing and extended operating hours via 1bank Internet Banking and the 1bank mobile app, available on weekdays from 7:30 am to 11:00 pm. At the same time, retail customers enjoy fintech-like benefits with the reliability of a longstanding banking institution.

Empowering Customers With Quick And Secure Access

The introduction of Quick Accounts for individual subscribers facilitates immediate account setup and instant Visa debit card issuance. Users can seamlessly convert currencies between the euro, sterling, and US dollar on a round-the-clock basis at real-time rates. Further, the facility to execute GBP and USD payments directly from Cyprus through SWIFT—combined with preferential pricing, commission-free FX, and special incentives for students—positions BoC as a leader in customer-centric financial innovation.

Global Recognition And Continued Excellence

Since its inception in 1987, Global Finance has cultivated a reputation for recognizing excellence among global financial institutions. With a presence spanning 188 countries and the FX awards named in honor of the influential Gordon Platt, this recognition solidifies BoC’s status as a forward-thinking institution addressing both traditional and emerging market needs.

Cyprus GDP Growth Accelerates To 3.3% In Q2 2026 As Employment Rises

Cyprus’ seasonally adjusted GDP grew 0.8% in the second quarter of 2026 from the previous quarter, while employment increased 0.5%, according to Eurostat data.

Compared with the second quarter of 2025, GDP rose 3.3% and employment increased 1.6%. Quarterly economic growth accelerated from 0.5% in the first quarter.

Cyprus Growth Picks Up In Second Quarter

The 0.8% quarterly expansion followed growth of 1.2% in the fourth quarter of 2025 and 0.8% in the third quarter. Annual growth also accelerated to 3.3% from 3% in the first quarter, after reaching 4.2% in the fourth quarter and 3.5% in the third quarter of 2025.

Employment growth resumed after remaining unchanged in the first quarter. The 0.5% quarterly increase followed gains of 0.7% in the fourth quarter and 0.5% in the third quarter of 2025.

Annual employment growth slowed to 1.6% in the second quarter from 2% in both the first quarter of 2026 and the fourth quarter of 2025. Growth stood at 1.4% in the third quarter of 2025.

EU Growth Strengthens

Across the EU, GDP increased 0.7% in the second quarter from the previous quarter, while euro area output rose 0.6%. Both figures marked a sharp acceleration from the first quarter, when EU GDP grew 0.1% and euro area GDP was unchanged.

Year on year, GDP increased 1.4% in the EU and 1.2% in the euro area, up from 0.9% and 0.6%, respectively, in the previous quarter.

Ireland recorded the strongest quarterly growth at 10.2%, followed by Slovenia at 1.8% and Lithuania at 1.7%. Austria was the only member state to record a contraction, with GDP falling 0.1%.

Consumption And Trade Support Growth

Household consumption contributed 0.2 percentage points to quarterly growth in both the euro area and the EU. Net exports added 0.9 percentage points in the euro area and 0.8 points in the EU.

Inventory changes reduced growth by 0.5 percentage points in both regions. Gross fixed capital formation had little impact in the euro area and added 0.1 percentage points in the EU.

Employment increased 0.1% quarter on quarter in both the euro area and the EU. Annual employment growth reached 0.5% in the euro area and 0.4% in the EU, with 221.4 million people employed across the EU and 176.4 million in the euro area.

Hours worked increased 0.1% in both regions from the previous quarter. Compared with a year earlier, hours worked rose 0.7% in the euro area and 0.8% in the EU.

Employment Trends Vary Across Europe

Portugal recorded the strongest quarterly employment growth at 1%, followed by the Czech Republic and Malta at 0.9% each. Finland saw the largest decline, at 0.8%, followed by Greece at 0.4%.

In the United States, GDP increased 0.4% from the previous quarter and 2.1% year on year.

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