YEREVAN, June 10. / ARKA /. HSBC Bank Armenia has signed an agreement with Araks company on installment of the first ‘drive through’ ATM in Armenia that will enable drivers to execute operations without leaving their cars. The bank said in a press release that new ATM will be located near a petrol station and service point of Araks at 20, Myasnikyan street in Yerevan.

According to the press release, a similar arrangement was reached with Hovnanian International company for installing of ‘drive through’ ATMs on Ashtarak highway near Vahagni Residential Community. The ATMs will be put into action in the third quarter of 2011.

Drive through ATM is a new self-service solution, which offers standard banking services via ATMs round the clock seven days a week. The new service provides maximum convenience, saving time and efforts of customers, because they do not need to get out of their cars and look for a parking lot.

"This is in line with our Bank's strategy to consistently offer innovative technologies aimed at improving customer service," HSBC Bank Armenia CEO Astrid Clifford was quoted as saying.

HSBC Bank Armenia was the first bank in Armenia to install ATM in 1996, and was also the first to install ATM outside the office at the intersection of Baghramian and Moskovian streets, which operates to this day. The bank currently operates more 50 ATMs.

HSBC Bank Armenia was the first international bank to open in Armenia in 1996. The bank is a joint venture between the HSBC Group, which has 70 percent ownership, and members of overseas Armenian businesses. The bank offers a wide range of products and services to individual as well as corporate customers, including personal financial services, commercial banking and treasury and capital markets services.

According to ARKA News Agency, as of March 31, 2011 the Bank's assets totaled 149.6 billion drams, liabilities stood at 123 billion drams, total capital was worth 26.6 billion drams, the charter capital stood at 10.4 billion drams, the outstanding credit portfolio rose to 92.6 billion drams, liabilities to clients stood at 103.4 billion drams. In the first quarter of the year the bank earned 1.6 billion drams in net profits. ($ 1-376.63 drams).-0-