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Hellenic Bank Makes Key Interest Rate Cut: What It Means For Borrowers

The Hellenic Bank has taken a significant step to ease the financial burden on borrowers by announcing a reduction in its reference interest rate. Effective from March 12, 2025, the rate sees a drop from 2.90% to 2.65%. This 0.25% cut aligns with fluctuations in the European Central Bank’s base rate.

Impact On Borrowers And Business

  • Interest Rate Adjustment: The treasury rate was reduced by 0.25%.
  • New Rate: Set at 2.65%.
  • Beneficiaries: Over 6,000 loan recipients are expected to benefit.

Coming on the heels of a recent 0.16% reduction, which affected the bank’s basic interest to reach 1.75%, this move aims to further relieve over 90,000 borrowers, spanning individuals to businesses, by reducing their borrowing costs.

Steady Fixed Rates For Home Loans & My Home Rewards

Attractive Mortgage Rates: The Bank offers fixed mortgage rates of:

  • 2.95% for the initial three years.
  • 3.10% for the first five years.

My Home Rewards Program enriches these offers through:

  • Cashback Offers: Up to €2,000 for furnishing and home equipment from partner merchants.
  • Enhanced Buyer Opportunities: Enabling customers to own homes under more favorable conditions.

This strategic rate adjustment by Hellenic Bank not only makes loan facilities more accessible but also strengthens the real estate market dynamics in Cyprus, aligning with trends observed in the global real estate arena.

YouTube Create Eyes iOS Launch Amid Fierce Competition in Mobile Editing


Google is set to extend the reach of YouTube Create to iOS devices nearly two years after its exclusive Android debut. The company is actively recruiting engineers in Bengaluru, India, to spearhead the development of this new version, signaling its determination to challenge established video editing platforms.

Engineers Mobilize for a Strategic iOS Expansion

Job listings reviewed by TechCrunch highlight Google’s focused efforts to bring its mobile video editing tool to iOS. With positions aimed at software engineering in Bengaluru, the initiative marks a pivotal step in broadening YouTube Create’s capabilities beyond its initial U.S. and select international markets.

Meeting Creator Demands With Comprehensive Tools

YouTube Create was designed with creators in mind, offering a suite of free editing tools that include stickers, GIFs, and special effects suited for both YouTube Shorts and longer-form content. Developed after consultations with 3,000 content creators, the app aims to meet the evolving needs of its user base.

Confronting Dominance in a Competitive Market

Despite its thoughtful design, YouTube Create currently lags behind competitors such as CapCut and InShot. Analysis by Sensor Tower underscores the vast gap in both downloads and engagement metrics; while CapCut and InShot have managed tens of millions of downloads and robust user interaction, YouTube Create’s figures remain modest in comparison.

Retention Challenges and Evolving User Engagement

Even as YouTube Create experiences a 28% year-over-year increase in monthly active users—a pace that outstrips the modest gains of its peers—the platform faces significant retention hurdles. With a 90-day retention rate of only 1%, compared to CapCut’s 7% and InShot’s 4%, the app must overcome serious challenges to secure ongoing user loyalty.

Geographic Diversification And Future Market Potential

While India’s share of YouTube Create’s monthly active users has dipped from 67% to 51%, the app is steadily gaining traction in other key markets such as Indonesia, Germany, Brazil, and the U.K. Notably, several regions, including Spain, South Korea, France, and Singapore, have experienced significant year-over-year growth in user engagement.

Google’s venture into the iOS ecosystem is expected to further recalibrate the mobile video editing landscape. However, as the analytics suggest, the battle against dominant competitors is set to require not only technological innovation but a strategic focus on user retention and market diversification.


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