A long journey with milestones, difficult moments and achievements for the longest financial industry of the country. 

A vision that commenced 125 years ago, through the expectations of the Cypriot people, was destined to evolve into the largest financial institution of the country, charting a significant path full of milestones and achievements. 

Amidst a climate of emotion and pride, in the presence of prominent figures from the economic, political and social scene of the country, including the President of the Republic, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, Bank of Cyprus celebrated on Wednesday, April 10th, 125 years of active presence and dynamic involvement in the economic, social and cultural affairs of the country. 

As a welcome during the event, the President of the Republic stated that the "Bank of Cyprus has been a lever of development and a pillar of economic stability, as one of the biggest ambassadors of the country abroad, the backbone of our people in extremely difficult times, while also being and remaining a part of Cypriot society, the Community of Cypriots, which draws its existence from the depths of history." 

Faithful to its values, maintaining its integrity and reliability, throughout these years, it has been on difficult paths, swam in uncharted waters and served as a pillar of hope and progress. 

"It is an emotional feeling for me to be participating in this significant milestone this year, to share with pride what the organisation has achieved, and to express, on behalf of all of us, gratitude for the unwavering support and trust that the Bank of Cyprus has historically received from the Cypriot people," stated the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Cyprus, Takis Arapoglou. 

The history of the Bank of Cyprus, as presented at the event by the renowned journalist, Nikos Hadjinicolaou, begins in 1899 when, at the threshold of the 20th century, a group of visionary Cypriots, who believed in the idea of savings and cooperation, made a great leap for the island by founding the "Nicosia Savings Bank", thus marking a new era. A few year later, in February 1912, the Savings Bank was transformed into a joint-stock company under the name of Bank of Cyprus, which over the years would become synonymous with the economy, society and history of Cyprus. 

Determined to support the Cypriot economy in 1943, it expanded across the entire island, becoming the Bank of all Cypriots, adopting as its official emblem the ancient Cypriot copper coin with the inscription 'Community of Cyprus', which served as a beacon and guide for the future. 

Its footprint in the modern history of the country is profound, and its contribution during critical periods and milestones has been significant and decisive. It managed not only to effectively handle important crises but also to evolve into a rapidly growing organisation, with a strong capital base, high liquidity and sustainable profitability. An organisation that exudes resilience and stability, which pays dividends to its shareholders, earns the trust of international rating agencies, serves over 75% of the population of Cyprus, over 56,000 businesses, and over 50,000 international clients, with its insurance companies providing services to over 170,000 clients. 

During his speech, the CEO of the Bank of Cyprus, Panikos Nikolaou, stated: "125 years after the founding of the Bank of Cyprus, we are proud because the largest bank of the country is here, strong and ready to meet the challenges of the times. We will continue with the same zeal and seriousness to create value for the economy, society, culture, the Bank of Cyprus Group itself, and of course, for our customers and shareholders."

In its long journey, the Bank of Cyprus has proven that Corporate Social Responsibility is deeply rooted in its DNA. A milestone was the establishment of the "Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation" in 1984, which celebrates 40 years of existence this year, with the main goal of preserving and disseminating our culture. 

However, the pinnacle of the bank's social contribution is the establishment of the Oncology Centre in 1998, which has helped almost 50,000 patients to date. 

Other significant milestones also include the establishment of the IDEA Innovation Centre in 2015, the largest non-profit incubator for startups, and "Support CY", created in 2020 amid a pandemic, aimed at providing immediate support to frontline professionals. 

Few organisations worldwide have connected their name with the history of an entire country, as the Bank of Cyprus has achieved to do so with Cyprus itself. Today, 125 years after the founding of the bank, the largest financial institution of the country, fully responsive to the challenges of the times, remains strong, and always with its compass pointed towards its clients and the country.