The banking system in Cyprus closely follows the British pattern. The banks have many convenient branches, which are efficient, modern and well equipped with the latest technology.
Non-Cypriot citizens may open foreign currency (e.g. Sterling) and local deposit accounts without difficulty. Many international banks have branches throughout the island. Major credit cards, such as those within the Visa and MasterCard networks, are widely used in Cyprus. Transactions and payments are simply made through your foreign deposit account. All commercial banks in Cyprus are able to offer mortgage facilities to assist with the purchase of a property. The loan will be in foreign currency. The amount available to borrow varies between 60%-80% of value of the property with a repayment period of up to 10 years. Interest rates generally run about 2% above base rate so it would seem sensible to try and arrange your finance in the UK wherever possible.