YEREVAN, July 22. /ARKA/. ARKA News Agency presents the second quarter’s top five newsmakers among Armenia’s commercial banks.

ARKA News Agency started issuing banks’ press ratings in 2010. The press rating is based on banking activity facts reported by media only.

The agency’s analysis shows that the number Armenian banks’ reports in media resources in the second quarter of this year exceeded the result of the same period a year before.

In particular, the overall total index (OTI) that shows the number of reports stood at 1 725.3 in Apr-June 2016 against 1 553.7 at the same period a year earlier.

Top five commercial banks in ARKA News Agency’s ranking are Araratbank, Ameriabank, Unibank, Armeconombank and VTB Bank (Armenia).

Araratbak atop Media Ranking

The main event that impacted the bank’s media reputation was its annual news conference on June 17.

The bank unveiled here its decision not to pay dividends to its shareholders for 2015. It also unveiled its intention to auction bonds on one of foreign markets, to embark on an additional bond emission worth AMD 8.5 billion to build up its capital and to earn AMD 800 million in profits in 2016.

The bank also didn’t abandon an idea of acquisition of another bank or a loan package.

Ashot Osipyan, chairman of the bank’s board, reported about plans to introduce in Armenia’s market a virtual bank and IT novelties, such as the opportunity of payment via smartphones.

Besides, the bank carried out its 11th emission of foreign currency coupon bonds totaling $1 million.

Ameriabank Ranked Second

It became known in the period under review that Fitch Ratings has revised the Outlook on CJSC Ameriabank's (Ameria) Long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to Stable from Negative, Fitch Ratings has revised the Outlook on CJSC Ameriabank's (Ameria) Long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to Stable from Negative, while affirming the IDR at 'B+'.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) awarded Ameriabank “Deal of the Year -- Energy Efficiency” for improving the energy efficiency of greenhouse infrastructure in Armenia in 2015.

It also became known that Ameriabank will receive a $20-million loan from Germany’s DEG.

The bank is going to build up the share of lending to SMEs in its loan portfolio to 40%.

Unibank Third Top Newsmaker

Unibank issued, auctioned and listed dollar bonds and stocks.

In particular, it started issuing registered dollar coupon bonds with the annual yield of 8%. The first issue amounted to $5 million.

An additional emission of equities attracted AMD 5.2 billion. A new issue amounting to AMD 2.8 billion was announced in June.

Besides, the bank specially opened a website corp.unibank.am for shareholders and investors.
Unibank successfully underwent ISO 27001:2013 cyber security re-certification.

It also revealed its intention to reach a AMD 5 billion profit by 2020.

Armeconombank Fourth in Ranking

The word of Armeconombank’s $10-million loan agreement with Symbiotics S.А (Switzerland) and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises Bonds S.A. is one of the most important news stories about the bank.

The bank also confirmed its agreement on merger with BTA Bank.

Armeconombank announced an open subscription for the 13 issue of stocks and placed them.
In June, the bank said it would pay dividends equal to 14% to its shareholders.

VTB Bank (Armenia) Placed Fifth in Ranking

The bank paid attention to expansion and improvement of its services in the second quarter.

In particular, the bank offered special prices for money transfers via Unistream, improved terms of ‘Super Rate’ service and launched ‘Let’s Fly to Maldives’ campaign.

VTB Bank (Armenia) also doubled the number of the extended loans and reported a two-fold growth of the number of loan restructuring applications.

Besides, the bank held a charity event and unveiled its social responsibility projects.

At the same time, in the second quarter, as one quarter before, negative information about the bank appeared as well, particularly, VTB Bank (Armenia) denied information that the Azerbaijani authorities enjoy access to the bank clients’ personal data.

Calling this information a lie, the bank said it tarnishes its reputation and deludes people. ---0---