Panayiotis Rougalas
The holidays are over, autumn is approaching, and the banks are getting back to business, focused on meeting the targets they have set. One of those goals is to promote their investment story and showcase their achievements to investors at roadshows abroad, ultimately hoping to increase the value of their shares.
September is a busy month for investment activity, with Cypriot banks, as well as Greek banking groups with a strong presence in Cyprus, taking part in three investor conferences.
These include the three systemic banks operating in Cyprus, Bank of Cyprus, Eurobank and Alpha Bank, as well as the National Bank of Greece, all of which regularly participate in roadshows abroad. While the three banks with Greek roots are represented through their parent companies in Greece, Bank of Cyprus traditionally attends such events with its senior management team.
Three roadshows are scheduled for September: one in Athens and two in London. The conferences are considered particularly important because they will give banks the opportunity to meet investors interested in the wider region.
September also brings major international conferences organized by Goldman Sachs and Bank of America. Cyprus is expected to feature prominently in these meetings. Apart from Bank of Cyprus, which is a Cypriot lender, the Greek banks regularly include plans connected to Cyprus in their investment presentations.
Such meetings have delivered significant results for banks in the past, with movements in their shares often following several weeks later as long-term investors buy stakes.
Bank of Cyprus is a notable example. Its roadshows have attracted major funds and institutional investors, including Wellington Management Group, which now holds a stake of nearly 5% in the bank.
These events also help put Cyprus’ banks and the country’s broader investment story on the international radar. Their success can boost bank share prices and benefit the wider economy by attracting investment that is then channeled into domestic projects.
One roadshow is scheduled for October in North America. According to information from Bank of Cyprus, meetings have been arranged with investors in New York, Chicago and Toronto.
In November, Morgan Stanley will hold its now-established conference, jointly organized with the Athens Stock Exchange and Euronext, this time in London.
Another investor conference and roadshow, organized by WOOD & Company, will take place in Prague in December.
The numbers
Beyond the individual picture each bank will present to investors, Cyprus’ banking sector is performing strongly overall, despite the challenges it continues to face.
Banks in Cyprus recorded combined profits of €1.02 billion in 2025, while the sector’s total assets reached €69.9 billion. The Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio, a key measure of banks’ ability to absorb financial shocks, stood at 25.8% at the end of 2025.
The nonperforming loan ratio fell to a historic low of 1.6% by the end of 2025, placing Cyprus in a favorable position compared with the EU average of 1.8%.
However, significant vulnerabilities remain, according to the financial stability report. These stem mainly from the high concentration of Cyprus’ banking sector and the close links between individual lenders, which are reinforced by their use of similar business models.
The Central Bank has also noted that banks have significant exposure to loans backed by property. While property provides banks with some protection when borrowers fail to repay their debts, it also leaves the sector vulnerable to a sharp fall in real estate prices. This risk comes at a time when property prices continue to rise and structural weaknesses persist in the market.
Banks are also expanding their lending activities abroad, making the sector more closely connected to international economic developments. Although geographical diversification can help spread risk, it also increases exposure to shocks from overseas, particularly amid prolonged economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions.
