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Hellenic Bank’s Bold Steps in 2025: A Dive into Their Financial Strategies

In a noteworthy first quarter of 2025, Hellenic Bank disbursed new loans amounting to €404 million, of which €75 million were dedicated to green financing, marking a significant 19% of their total loans. This strategic focus on sustainable finance highlights Hellenic Bank’s commitment to environmentally conscious lending.

Breakdown of New Loans

During the quarterly review (Read more), it was revealed that retail loans reached €123 million, with €87 million directed towards housing. Corporate loans totaled €105 million, while commercial loans and shipping/international credits accounted for €48 million and €127 million, respectively. Hellenic Bank’s dedication to solvency and prudence is evident as 99.6% of the loans issued post-2018 remain serviced.

Performance Highlights and Market Position

CEO Michalis Louis noted a dynamic start to 2025 with the bank achieving €45 million in profits after voluntary exit plan expenses. Their market share in new lending increased to 25.2% as of March 31, 2025, from 20.3% at the end of 2024, underscoring their growth strategy. The bank also maintains a robust liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) of 493% with €5 billion in the European Central Bank, demonstrating financial stability.

Strategic Growth and Acquisitions

Hellenic Bank is poised for strategic integration with Eurobank Cyprus, reinforcing its financial service capabilities post the acquisition of a significant stake by Eurobank. Additionally, the completion of the CNP Cyprus Insurance Holdings acquisition sets the stage for increased market leverage (Explore more). This integration aligns with the goal to become a leading financial service provider in Cyprus.

Challenges and Interest Revenue

While net interest income fell by 9% due to reduced interest from loan portfolios and ECB rate cuts, Hellenic has offset this through enhanced income from repurchase agreements and decreased borrowing costs, as elaborated in their recent financial statements.

Cyprus Expects More French Visitors In 2027 As Air Capacity Expands

Cyprus expects more French visitors in 2027 as airlines increase capacity between the two countries, Tourism Deputy Minister Kostas Koumis said after meetings with tour operators in Paris.

France, one of Cyprus’ key tourism markets, has had a difficult 2026. French arrivals fell 46% year over year to 8,453 in August, from 15,663 a year earlier, according to the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat). August arrivals were also nearly 50% below the 16,798 recorded in the same month of 2024.

Overall, Cyprus received 2.82 million tourist arrivals between January and August, down 7% from the same period in 2025.

Air Connectivity Supports 2027 Outlook

Koumis discussed the 2027 outlook with senior executives from tour operators offering Cyprus holidays during the IFTM Top Resa travel trade fair in Paris.

Higher air capacity between France and Cyprus was a key focus of the talks. Participants also discussed the impact of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East on the French market and Cyprus’ efforts to adapt its tourism offering to French travelers.

“The French market is undoubtedly an extremely important market for our country’s tourism,” Koumis said, adding that France had regained importance only a few years ago and still had room to grow.

Improved air connectivity will be an important factor in that expansion, according to Koumis. “It is now clear that air connectivity between France and Cyprus is improving significantly, which is a basic prerequisite for the further growth of the market,” he said.

Cyprus Promotes Tourism And Regional Cooperation

Koumis attended the opening of IFTM Top Resa at the invitation of French Tourism Minister Serge Papin, who later visited the Cyprus stand. Held from Sept. 15 to 17 at Paris Porte de Versailles, the event brought together more than 32,000 tourism professionals representing 177 destinations and 1,650 brands, according to organizers.

During his visit, Koumis also met Egyptian Tourism Minister Sherif Fathy. Cyprus and Egypt reaffirmed their tourism cooperation and discussed opportunities to strengthen ties further.

French media interviews covered Cyprus’ tourism offering, infrastructure and services, along with efforts to develop specialized tourism products. Regional instability weighed on arrivals in 2026, particularly during the spring, although the decline narrowed over the summer.

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