YEREVAN, May 25. /ARKA/. Armenian banks posted 28.6 billion drams in net interest income in the first quarter of this year, a 25.1% increase over the same time span last year. Interest income grew by 33.4% to about 52.8 billion drams, and interest expenses  by 44.7% to over 24.2 billion drams.

According to the interim financial statements of the banks for the first quarter of 2012, the leading bank in terms of net interest income was  ACBA Credit Agricole Bank, which accounted for 12.1% (3.5 billion drams) of the overall net interest income. Its interest income was over  6.1 billion drams, the interest expenses amounted to 2.6 billion drams.

The list of five leading banks in terms of net interest income also includes HSBC Bank Armenia (over 3.2 billion drams), VTB Bank (Armenia) (more than 3 billion drams), Ardshininvestbank (more than 2.6 billion drams) and Ameriabank (more than 2.4 billion drams). ($1 - 402.67 drams). -0-