ArmInfo.  VTB Bank (Armenia) team took the 2nd place in the 8th Amateur Chess Blitz Championship in the Armenian banking system, the Bank's press-office told ArmInfo.

ArmInfo. Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) has set a 0% reserve requirement for foreign and national currency deposits for bond offering. CBA press-office told ArmInfo the given changes were made to the Provision No.2 "Regulation of the banking activity and the basic economic standards of banks" at the CBA Board meeting on November 10.   

ArmInfo. Armenia's banking sector paid 31.9 billion drams to the state budget for 9 months of 2015, which is by 6.3% more than a year ago. Profit and incomes taxes accounted for 28.9 billion drams of total. According to the State Revenue Committee of Armenia, 14 (vs.  11 for 9 months of 2014) out of 21 operating banks were listed among top 100 of taxpayers in Armenia for 9 months of 2015.  Ameriabank, Ardshinbank, VTB Bank (Armenia), HSBC Bank Armenia, and Armbusinessbank were top five of largest taxpayer-banks in Armenia. 

ArmInfo. In Q3 2015, the lending by the banks came to a standstill, accelerating the profit sagging amid the continuous "debt utilization". According to the Express Ranking of Armenian Banks by the Agency of Rating Marketing Information (ArmInfo), 15 out of the 21 commercial banks of Armenia suffered year-over-year profit decline, and 10 banks experienced profit decline in Q3 2015. In Jan-Sept 2015, 7 banks operated at a loss (6 banks in Q3). Two of them are among the top five largest banks that lend to the sectors of economy. 

In the first half of 2015 Armenian banks paid 22.558 bln AMD taxes to the state budget, which is by 6.8% more than a year ago. 20.633 bln AMD accrued to profit and income tax. According to the State Revenue Committee of Armenia, top 100 taxpayers for the first half of 2015 include 15 out of 21 operating banks (versus 11 in Q1 2014).  Top five of taxpayer - banks comprises VTB Bank (Armenia), Armbusinessbank, Ardshinbank, Ameriabank, and HSBC Bank Armenia. 

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and ArmSwissBank have concluded a new USD 2 million loan agreement under the Caucasus Energy Efficiency Programme. ArmSwissBank has told ArmInfo that the companies meeting the programme requirements will be able to receive a loan for up to 5 years at 10-11 per annum. 

Armenia's banking system paid 9.742 bln drams taxes (including 8.681 bln drams income and profit taxes) to the state budget in Q1 2015, which is by 9.2% more than a year ago. According to the State Revenue Committee of Armenia, top 100 taxpayers for Q1 2015 include 13 out of 12 operating banks (versus 11 in Q1 2014). 

The Armenian market of government and corporate securities faces a difficult situation, Karen Turyan, Director of the Investment Department at ArmSwissBank, has told ArmInfo.  

In April ArmSwissBank is intending to issue bonds and launch three disbursements of 10 million USD bonds on the market.