From January to July, the value of transactions with cards rose an annual 13% to over €1.5bn, the electronic payment processing company said in an emailed statement.

Holders of Cypriot cards made purchases and cash withdrawals worth €138.2m in July and €884m in January to July which was in both cases 12% more compared with the respective period of 2016, JCC said. Holders of foreign cards spent for purchases at Cypriot merchants €107.9m in July, 14% more compared with July 2016, and €500.1m in the first seven months of the year, which is 21% more compared to the respective period of last year.

Holders of local credit cards spent €844,300 in July in the Turkish-held area of the island and €425,460 in January to July, JCC said. In the first seven months of the year, the respective amounts were €5.1m and €1.8m.

Holders of Turkish cards spent €2.2m for purchases in the government controlled areas in July and €14.7m in January to July, JCC said.

Source: Cyprus Mail