Fitch Ratings upgraded Bank of Cyprus’ Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to BBB from BBB-, and Eurobank Limited to BBB from BBB-, with stable outlooks for both banks. The upgrades reflect Fitch’s improved assessment of the island's operating environment, supported by sustained economic growth, falling unemployment, and declining private-sector debt.
The rating actions also factor in the banks’ strengthened standalone credit profiles, including reductions in non-performing loans, solid profitability, and adequate capital buffers.
Key drivers
Bank of Cyprus
BoC maintains a strong competitive position as one of Cyprus’s leading domestic banks. Fitch highlighted its stable deposit base, sound profitability, satisfactory capitalisation, and improved asset quality. The upgrade reflects further reductions in legacy problem assets, healthy earnings prospects, and the bank’s plans to expand wealth management, insurance, and other fee-generating businesses.
Eurobank
Eurobank Limited’s upgrade reflects its strengthened business profile following the merger with Eurobank Cyprus Ltd and the acquisition of CNP Assurances SA. The combination increased revenue diversification across insurance, corporate, and private banking, and strengthened its market share in Cyprus. Fitch noted the bank’s solid deposit-based funding, strong liquidity, capital ratios above the industry average, and significantly improved asset quality. Eurobank Limited is rated one notch above its parent, Eurobank S.A., reflecting limited direct exposure to the parent and expectations that it will maintain strong capital buffers.
Fitch expects the positive operating environment in Cyprus to support continued business opportunities, resilient asset quality, and sustainable profitability for both banks. The stable outlooks reflect confidence in the banks’ ability to manage risks while maintaining solid capital and liquidity positions.