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Bank Of Cyprus Invests €6 Million In Wealthyhood Fintech Platform

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

March 4, 2026

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’ Poverty And Social Exclusion Risk Stands At 17.1%

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

October 20, 2026

Cyprus recorded a poverty or social exclusion risk rate of 17.1% in 2025, below the European Union average of 20.9%, according to new Eurostat figures. Across the bloc, however, more than 92 million people continued to face the risk, highlighting persistent social and economic inequalities.

More Than 92 Million People At Risk Across The EU

A total of 92.7 million people across the EU were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2025, equivalent to just over one in five residents.

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Cyprus is treated as a single statistical region because of its size, unlike many member states divided into multiple regions for comparison. Its national figure therefore provides an overall picture but does not capture differences between districts or communities.

Regional Gaps Remain Stark Across Europe

The risk varied considerably across the EU, with the highest rates concentrated largely in southern, eastern and outermost regions. In 24 of the 243 regions with available data, at least 31.5% of the population faced poverty or social exclusion.

These regions were located in Spain, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, France and Romania, as well as Brussels in Belgium and Bremen in north-western Germany.

French Guiana recorded the highest rate, at 54.8%, followed by Calabria in southern Italy at 45.3% and Sicily at 44%. Melilla, a Spanish autonomous city, recorded 43.7%, while Réunion, another French outermost region, stood at 42.3%.

Central Europe Records The Lowest Rates

At the other end of the scale, 24 regions reported poverty or social exclusion risk rates below 13% in 2025. These included five eastern EU capital regions: Bratislava in Slovakia, Warsaw in Poland, Prague in the Czech Republic, Budapest in Hungary and Zagreb in Croatia.

Other regions with low rates were concentrated in northern Italy, the Czech Republic, northern Belgium, Hungary, Poland and Austria, illustrating the uneven distribution of economic security across Europe.

Cyprus Remains Below The EU Average

Cyprus’ rate of 17.1% places it below the EU average, although it remains higher than the levels recorded in the bloc’s lowest-risk regions.

The figures suggest that Cyprus performs relatively well compared with the wider EU, but poverty and social exclusion remain significant challenges across the bloc, affecting more than 92 million people.