**Cyprus Sees Fewer Bounced Cheques Overall Despite August Surge**
The Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) has reported a significant decline in the number of bounced cheques for the first eight months of 2026, despite a notable increase in August. According to the CBC's data released on Wednesday, the number of bounced cheques fell by 20.5 percent compared to the same period in 2025, with a total of 128 cheques recorded from January to August 2026, down from 161 in the previous year.
In addition to the decrease in the number of bounced cheques, their total value also saw a decline. The combined value of the bounced cheques during this period was €315,581, which represents a 13.7 percent drop from €365,490 in the first eight months of 2025. This trend suggests an overall improvement in the financial behavior of cheque issuers in Cyprus.
However, the data for August 2026 presented a contrasting picture. The month recorded 27 bounced cheques, marking a substantial increase of 68.8 percent from the 16 cheques recorded in August 2025. Despite this rise in the number of bounced cheques, their total value experienced a sharp decrease, falling to €27,092 from €52,891 a year earlier, which is a decline of 48.8 percent.
The CBC's report also highlighted changes in the demographics of cheque issuers. During the first eight months of 2026, there were 52 legal persons and 24 natural persons recorded as issuers of bounced cheques, totaling 76 individuals. This is a slight decrease from the 82 persons recorded in the same period of 2025, which included 46 legal persons and 36 natural persons. In August 2026, the breakdown showed four legal persons and two natural persons, consistent with the total of six persons recorded in August 2025, albeit with a different distribution.
Furthermore, the CBC noted that registrations in the Central Information Register (CIR) for issuers of bounced cheques totaled 86 persons from January to August 2026, an increase from 80 during the same timeframe in 2025. It is important to note that these figures represent registrations rather than deletions from the register, meaning that the current data does not account for any subsequent removals of individuals from the CIR.
The preliminary list indicates that the 128 bounced cheques recorded in the first eight months of 2026 accounted for 60.1 percent of the total 213 cheques recorded throughout 2025. In terms of value, the €315,581 recorded in the first eight months of 2026 represents 50.1 percent of the total €630,249 recorded for the entire year of 2025.
This mixed data on bounced cheques reflects ongoing fluctuations in the financial landscape of Cyprus, with the overall trend indicating a reduction in bounced cheques for the year to date, while August's figures suggest potential challenges in the short term. The CBC's findings may prompt further analysis and discussion regarding the factors influencing these trends and the implications for the Cypriot economy.