Nicosia: The small size of the Cypriot economy and the surplus liquidity of the banking sector contribute to the adjustment of interest rates at a slower pace than in larger Eurozone economies, Central Bank of Cyprus Governor Christodoulos Patsalides said on Monday, speaking before the Finance Committee on the 2025 state budget.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Patsalides highlighted that the small size of the economy plays a significant role in the slower adjustment of interest rates in Cyprus compared to larger economies. This slower pace is further influenced by the high excess liquidity present in the Cypriot banking sector, with the loan-to-deposit ratio standing at 49.3%, contrasted with 106.5% in the broader EU.
He noted that recent data shows a downward trend in lending rates across most loan categories in Cyprus, especially concerning corporate loans. Specifically, the average interest rate for new loans to businesses was recorded at 5.32% in September, down from a peak of 6.06% in October 2023, mi
rroring the downward trend in Euribor. Similarly, the average interest rate for new mortgage loans decreased to 4.53% in September, a reduction of 0.66% from a high of 5.19% in January 2024.
Deposit rates have also been on a decline, with new household term deposits of up to one year averaging an interest rate of 1.98% in September, compared to 2.24% in March. Meanwhile, deposit rates for businesses remained stable at 2.14% in September, aligning closely with the yearly average.
Patsalides expressed the Central Bank of Cyprus’s dissatisfaction with the existing gap between deposit and lending rates. However, he clarified that as a supervisory body, the CBC lacks the authority to intervene directly, apart from ensuring transparency by announcing interest rates.
Looking ahead to the upcoming European Central Bank meeting on December 11-12, Patsalides estimated that interest rates would likely be reduced. He emphasized that such reductions should be gradual to prevent large fluctuations that could adversely i
mpact economies.