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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.

AI In Practice Brings Business Leaders Together To Learn, Unlearn And Relearn

AI in Practice: Changing the Future of Business takes place on Monday, 19 October 2026, at the Cultural Center of European University Cyprus in Nicosia, under the auspices of the Chief Scientist of Cyprus, Demetris Skourides.

Organised by Panis.News with co-organisers GrantXpert Consulting and Future Skills Hub at European University Cyprus, the event will bring together founders, SME owners and senior executives to examine practical uses of artificial intelligence.

The evening runs from 18:00 to 22:30. Tickets will be available until 12:00 noon on Monday, 19 October, Cyprus time.

For business leaders, the challenge is deciding where AI can deliver results. The programme will explore how to identify useful applications, prepare teams and connect technology investment with business needs. Demonstrations, case studies and direct questions to speakers will help attendees assess their next steps.

Panis Pieri, Founder of Panis.News, said:

“Business leaders need space to ask questions, challenge assumptions and learn from people applying AI. We created AI in Practice to make that conversation accessible and useful. We want attendees to leave with a clearer idea of what they can do next in their own businesses.”

Dr Celia Hadjichristodoulou, Founder and Managing Director of GrantXpert Consulting and Future Skills Hub, said:

“Working out where AI belongs in your business takes real thought about your customers, your processes and your people.”

AIA.Labs supports the event as the Gold Partner. Its founder, Sotiris Makrygiannis, said:

“In the 70s we learnt how to punch a card to go to work or program a timesharing computing machine, in the 80s the personal PC and office tools, in the 90s the modem and basic internet, in the 2000s mobile internet plus web shopping, and by 2010 the mobile apps. Now it’s time to learn how to practically use AI and that alone is the most disruptive thing an individual can do today. We are happy to sponsor the event because theory needs a practical application.”

The Agenda

– 18:00–18:30: Registration and networking.

– 18:30–18:50: Welcome remarks from Panis Pieri, Dr Celia Hadjichristodoulou and EUC Rector Professor Loizos Symeou.

– 18:50–19:00: Interview with Chief Scientist Demetris Skourides.

– 19:00–19:20: The AI Revolution. Why should you care? by Monica Odysseos, Head of AI and Data Lab of Grant Thornton.

– 19:20–19:40: From Business Pain Points to AI Transformation: A CEO’s Roadmap to Real Results by George Malekkos, CEO of POWERSOFT Computer Solutions & AI-Driven Business Transformation Architect & President of CITEA.

– 19:40–20:20: AI and the Future of Business: Will Your Business Be Here in 2030? by Paris Thomas, Executive Advisor on AI & Strategy, Founder at Rapid Visual / Strapivo

– 20:20–21:00: Questions and answers with the speakers.

– 21:00–22:30: Networking over drinks and bites.

The Challenge

The evening’s programme approaches the challenge from three directions.

Monica Odysseos will begin with a question that deserves a clear answer: why should you care?

Her session will explore how AI is changing the way people work, make decisions and create. Her background spans software development, accounting and applied AI, bringing both technical and business perspectives to the discussion.

George Malekkos will then examine how business problems can become starting points for AI adoption.

Where does your company lose time? Which processes cause delays? Where could you improve the customer experience?

His presentation will look at selecting useful applications, preparing teams and processes, and measuring results. For a business owner deciding where to begin, that connection between a specific problem and a measurable outcome matters.

Paris Thomas will take the discussion further with his keynote, “AI and the Future of Business: Will Your Business Be Here in 2030?”

It is a challenging question. It asks leaders to look beyond today’s workload and consider how their products, services and business models might need to change.

His hour-long session will include live AI demonstrations and enterprise case studies. It will explore how leaders can improve their current business while developing new opportunities and preparing for longer-term change.

The Event

The event will be in English.

The full programme and to book your tickets, visit: https://luma.com/ai-in-practice-cyprus

The organisers thank:

  • Silver Partners Growth Hacking Cyprus, RSEVEN, Mel’s Digital and Makkas Winery.
  • Supporters: Cyprus Computer Society, XValley Tech, Business Society Accelerator, Startup School Cyprus and Carierista.
  • Community Partners: EIT Community Hub Cyprus, CYENS, Women in Tech, Startup Greece, ECECT, CITEA, IET Cyprus and Cyprus_IT

Follow updates about the event on social media at #PanisMeetups

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