Bank of Cyprus reports €252 million first-half profit and raises interim dividend

Nicosia, Cyprus. Bank of Cyprus reported profit after tax of €252 million for the first six months of 2026, up 7 per cent from a year earlier, and announced a higher interim dividend. The lender cited lending growth, resilient asset quality and a robust capital position.

Dividend and profitability

The bank said it would pay an interim dividend of €0.24 per ordinary share, equivalent to approximately €105 million. The payment represents a 44 per cent payout ratio on first-half earnings and is 20 per cent higher than the previous year’s interim dividend.

Group chief executive Panicos Nicolaou said the results reflected the bank’s diversified and efficient business model and continued performance.

Profit for the second quarter was €131 million. Return on tangible equity reached 18.8 per cent in the first half, remaining above the bank’s full-year target in the mid-teens.

Basic earnings per share stood at €0.58, while the cost-to-income ratio was 36 per cent.

Lending and deposits

Gross performing loans increased to €11.4 billion, rising 5 per cent since the start of the year and 8 per cent compared with a year earlier.

The bank’s predominantly retail-funded deposit base reached €22.8 billion, up 3 per cent year-to-date and 9 per cent year-on-year.