Wednesday, February 10 2010 14:27

Director general of Cascade Bank forecasts further reduction of interest rates in Armenia


ArmInfo.
We shall be witnesses of further
reduction of the interest rates in Armenia in 2010, Director
General of Cascade Bank Aharon Levonyan told ArmInfo. According to
him, reduction of the interest rates will be conditioned primarily
by a big volume of liquidity available in the market. He also said a
great difference currently exists between the dollar and dram rates
being attracted by Cascade Bank from the market. So, if the bank
attracts dram deposits at the rate of 10,5% per annum, the dollar
deposits are attracted at the rate of 7%. Meanwhile, Cascade Bank
extends dollar business-credits at the rate starting from 11% per
annum, and the dram ones - starting from 13%.


The banker thinks that considerable opportunities are opened to the
country's banking system in 2010, as the market has a huge
unutilized growth potential. "Armenia is significantly behind the
developed countries by the ratio of the bank assets and deposits to
GDP, since many individual and legal persons still do not use the
bank services (non- banked population). Moreover, a client "niche"
has already been determined in the banking system for each bank", he
emphasized.


A. Levonyan thinks that economic recession in Armenia will slow
down in general in 2010. "We see backgrounds of considerable
economic growth, and we think the current year will be stable, and
further tactic steps will be determined", he emphasized.


To note, Cascade Capital Holdings holds 100% block of stock of
Cascade Bank.