ArmInfo. The Armenian banking system sent 10.1 billion AMD to the state budget in the first quarter of 2017 (or 9.8 billion without taking into account the combined Areximbank and the Armenian Development Bank), which is 8.6% higher than the figure of a year ago. Of this amount, over 88% or 8.9 billion AMD was paid on direct taxes (including income tax and income tax), with an annual growth of 8.5%.

ArmInfo. Armenian banks customer base at the end of 2016 counted 2 413 943 physical and 79 609 judicial persons. According to Armenian National Statistic Service data, all together 2 493 558 customers had 4 553 107 amounts in Armenian banks, 4 368 596 from which amounts of physical and 184 511 judicial person?s amounts.

ArmInfo. Within the partnership with National Mortgage Company, Converse  Bank launched the 4th stage of KfW funded mortgage project on effective housing construction support in Armenia. According to the information shared with  ArmInfo by the press office of the Bank, within the fourth stage of the project two aspects will be launched: Energy Efficient Mortgage Loans and Regional Mortgage  Loans. At that, the second dimension does not comprise any compulsory requirements of energy efficiency securing.

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. On March 1, the  National Assembly of Armenia adopted the draft amendments to the Law  "On Compulsory Funded Pension" in the second and final reading.  

ArmInfo. The compulsory  component of the funded pension system will come into effect on 1  July 2018 for all Armenian citizens born after 1 Jan 1974, Deputy  Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia Nerses Yeritsyan said in the  Parliament, when presenting the amendments to the Law "On compulsory  funded pension system" in the second reading.   

ArmInfo. The Cumulative  Pension System (CPS) participants may regularly receive information  on their pension account funds in Internet by www.epension.am,  account operators and ATMs

ArmInfo. Until 2020 Armenia  will decrease the consumption of the primary energy for 37%. This is  stated by the press office of the Ministry of Energy Infrastructures  and  Natural Resources of Armenia referring to the information of  Vahagn Atayan, the Energy Saving and Technical Standards   Department  Head. 

ArmInfo. On Feb 7, the National Assembly of Armenia completed the discussions on the draft amendments to the Law "On Compulsory Funded Pension" in the first reading. The voting on the draft law will be held on Feb 8. 

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 German KfW Bank has provided Armenia with a EUR 20 mln loan (in AMD equivalent) or implementation of the fourth stage of the mortgage lending program, CEO of National Mortgage Company UCO Hayk Voskanyan and KfW representative Judith Boehnke said at a press conference on February 1.  

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. 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. Armenian Government  took an objective to decrease the consumption of primary energy for  38%,Hayk Harutyunyan, the Deputy Minister of Energetic Infrastructure  and Natural resources stated at the press conference  on November 23,  while presenting priorities and coming reforms of the field,  proceeding from the Government program. 

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.