ArmInfo. The higher level of   dollarization and slow decrease of deposit rates restrict the shunt  of the Central bank in respect to the further softening of  monetary-loan term, but the main task of the regulator is  to provide  the prices sustainability.  Such a statement was made by Arthur  Djavadyan, the Chairman of  the  Central Bank of Armenia,  while  commenting on the margins of his interview to ArmInfo  the  possibility of  review of  refinancing rate decreased  on February 14  this year from 6,25% to 6%. He reminded that in the beginning of the  stage of monetary loan terms softening it formed 10,5 %, after which,  starting with August 2015 the Central Bank started to decrease  step  by step the key interest rate, to give a pulse to inflation and  consumer demand. He clarified that the consumer prices in Armenia  have been decreasing in Armenia recently due to economic crisis  in  Russia, affecting the consumer demand for the reason of  Armenian  nationals  money  transfers decrease from  Russia. 

ArmInfo. Based on results of  2016, America bank occupies the 3rd position at the retail business  markert in the banking system of Armenia. According to clarifications  of Arman Barseghyan, the Retaild Banking Director and   Ameria Bank  Directors Board member, several years ago, in 2008, the bank occupied  the 8th position. 

ArmInfo.  It is not necessary  to be an economist to understand that most of the economic promises  made within the framework of the pre-electoral campaigns of the  political forces of Armenia are unrealistic. Doctor of Science in  Economics, Head of the Research Center "Alternative" Tatul Manaseryan  expressed this opinion on March 18, during the discussions of the  expert community at the round table.

ArmInfo. In 2016, Armenian banks  increased the financing of non- residents in twice - up to AMD 280 bln, while the residents financing growth formed 19,4% - up to 2,4 trln. It is remarkable that during last year the totallevel of capitalization of the system increased for 40% due to the necessity of  equity normative limits to be secured  by banks  at the limit of AMD 30 bln by January 1, 2017.

ArmInfo. Unibank ordinary registered  shares on March 10 passed the listing at Nasdaq QMX Armenia and were  included in the main stock list. According to the information  of the  stock exchange press office, starting with the moment of listing  Unibank stocks are allowed for addressed  transactions. 

ArmInfo. In Armenia, the growth  rate of non-cash transactions by plastic cards has accelerated in  2016 from 25% to 32.3%. According to the report of the Armenian  Central Bank, the volume of cashless card transactions for 2016  totaled 218.5 billion drams. Moreover, in quarter section after  falling by 15.3% in I quarter followed an increase by 21.5% in the II  quarter with an acceleration rate of up to 40.7% in the III quarter,  after which there was a sharp slowdown by 0.8% in the IV quarter.   According to the regulator, the total volume of plastic transactions  amounted 1.4 trillion drams in 2016.  However, the annual dynamics of  this index deteriorated from 13% growth to 2.1%. Parallel with this  the number of circulating cards dropped to 1.6 million units, with  the deterioration of the dynamics from 7.2% growth to 9.2% decline.  Meanwhile, three years earlier, in 2013, the total transactions  showed an increase by 10.2% with 18.1% of the increase in the number  of cards, and then in 2014 the growth of transactions accelerated to  26.3% at the growth slackening of the number of cards by 3 ,9%.

ArmInfo. In 2016, the  banking system of Armenia paid 34.4 bln AMD in taxes, 16.9% less than  in 2015. Over 88% or 30.1 bln AMD of this amount was paid in direct  taxes (including profit tax and income tax), with a 19.1% decline  versus 2015. According to the State Revenue Committee of Armenia, 12  out of the functioning 17 banks (versus 13 in 2015) were among the  top 100 taxpayers of Armenia in 2016. The top banks among the  taxpayers were Ameriabank, VTB Bank (Armenia), ACBA-Credit Agricole  Bank, Ardshinbank and INECOBANK, which paid 16.7 bln AMD in taxes  (down 22.3% versus 2015), including 15.1 bln AMD in direct taxes  (down 22.2% versus 2015).

ArmInfo. The Central Bank of Armenia should continue stimulating bank system enlargement in Armenia, Economist, former Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia, Yerevan State University Assistant Professor Bagrat Asatryan said on a press conference on January 30.  

ArmInfo. Starting from  January 17, 2017, additional issue of common nominal stocks by  "ARMECONOMBANK" OJSC will be listed on NASDAQ OMX Armenia and  included in the stocks' B list, the press service of NASDAQ OMX  Armenia informs. 

ArmInfo. Gazprombank is not interested in the Armenian market strategically, member of the Information Policy Council of Russia's Association of Regional Banks Ivan Anisimov stated in a talk to ArmInfo's correspondent commenting on the reasons why Gazprombank's subsidiary Areximbank-Gazprombank Group has left the Armenian market 

ArmInfo. In 2016, Armenian Central Bank, in virtue of its consequent works and trust obtained, has secured price and financial sustainability and essentially decreased inflation expectations, the Central Bank Chairman stated at New Year banquette party, summarizing 2016 results. 

ArmInfo. The client base of Armenia's banking system by October 2016 numbered 2 375 223 physical and 79 174 legal entities.  According to the National Statistic Service of Armenia, 2 454 397 clients had 4 493 879 accounts in Armenia's banks, from which 4 310 188 are accounts of physical entities and 183 691 of legal entities.

ArmInfo. ARARATBANK has replenished total capital by 8.5 bln drams due to issue of stocks. As a result the authorized capital of the bank has increased to 16.8 bln drams and total capital almost to 33 bln drams.

ArmInfo. By September 2016,  the customer base of the Armenian banking system had 2,361,208  individuals and 79,055 legal entities. According to the National  Statistical Service of Armenia, as many as 2,440,263 customers had  4,466,712 accounts in Armenian banks, including 4,284,043 accounts of  individuals and 182,669 accounts of legal entities.

ArmInfo. In Jan-Sept 2016 the banking system of Armenia paid 27.9 bln AMD or $58.9 mln in taxes, 12.5% less than in Jan-Sept 2015. The share of direct taxes (including profit tax and income tax) was over 89% or 25.1 bln AMD, 13.1% less than in Jan-Sept 2015.  The share of commercial banks in the total amount of taxes paid by top 1000 taxpayers was 5.3%. The top 1000 taxpayers paid a total of 525 bln AMD ($1.1 bln) in taxes in Jan-Sept 2016.

ArmInfo. By the end of 2016, the number of the Armenian banking market participants will be 17, i.e. the number will decline by 2 commercial banks. In October 2016, Areximbank-Gazprombank Group announced its withdrawal from the market. Its parental structure – the Russian Gazprombank - preferred to sell its subsidiary to Ardshinbank instead of undertaking capitalization, which was also done out of necessity to cover big losses. The Armenian Development Bank will also shortly be purchased by another quite active market player.  

ArmInfo. The client base of Armenia's banking system by August 2016 numbered 2 353 411 physical and 77 735 legal entities.  According to the National Statistic Service of Armenia, 2 431 146 clients had 3 375 809 accounts in Armenia's banks, from which 3 220 682 are accounts of physical entities and 155 127 of legal entities.

ArmInfo. The Central Bank of Russia may broaden the agreement on interaction of the national system of payment cards with the payment systems of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, Vladimir Komlev, Chairman of the Board of JSC "National System of Payment Cards", says in an interview with Izvestia.  

ArmInfo. Growth rates of  non-cash transactions by plastic cards slackened in Armenia.  According to the report of the Central Bank of Armenia the amount of  non-cash card transactions totaled 85.7 bln drams in H1 2016. Despite  significant amounts in absolute terms the growth rates of non-cash  payments by bankcards slackened to current 12% from previous 32%. 

ArmInfo. Banks of Armenia continue intensive capitalization, while experts anticipate new mergers till the end of 2016. According to the data of Financial Ranking of Armenian banks prepared by ArmInfo only 7 banks out of 19 have so far met the the minimal capital requirement, which according to the CBA's decision must not be less than 30 bln drams starting from 2017.