YEREVAN, August 17. / ARKA /. Armenian banks’ capital adequacy ratio (the ratio of a bank’s capital to its risks) was the highest in June 2016 over the last four year rising to 17.5%, according to the Central Bank of Armenia.
According to the regulator, the banks’ capital adequacy ratio grew by 1.3 percentage points from the beginning of the year due to the drop in economic growth rate and high growth rate of capital.
Thus, in 2015 the banks’ combined assets grew by 4.67%, while their capital surged by 17.8%. In the first half of 2016 the assets upped only by 0.59% while the capital grew by 8.52%.
Another factor behind the growth of Armenian banks’ capital is capital replenishment, carried out to meet a central bank requirement to become effective from January 1, 2017 that the banks must have at least 30 billion drams worth capital, up from the current 5 billion drams.
According to an ARKA study, the capital adequacy ratio of Armbusinessbank was 12.18%, that of Anelik Bank -12.59% and the figure for VTB Bank (Armenia) was 12.83%.
The capital adequacy ratio of Ardshinbank was 13.12%, that of Unibank – 14.59%, Conversebank’s capital adequacy ratio was 15,03%, Inecobank’s was 15.31%, that of HSBC Bank Armenia was 15.78% and that of the Armenian Development bank – 15,84%.
ACBA-CREDIT AGRICOLE BANK’s capital adequacy ratio was 16.96%, that of Ameriabank 17.15%, Areximbank Gazprombank Group’s ratio was 18.40%, Araratbank – 19.57%, Armeconombank – 20.32% and Artsakhbank – 25.85%. The figure for ArmSwissbank, Prometey Bank, Byblos Bank Armenia, BTA Bank and Mellat Bank was over 30%.
Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), also known as Capital to Risk (Weighted) Assets Ratio (CRAR) is the ratio of a bank’s capital to its risk. National regulators track a bank’s CAR to ensure that it can absorb a reasonable amount of loss and complies with statutory capital requirements. This ratio is used to protect depositors and promote the stability and efficiency of financial systems. The minimum ceiling set by Armenia’s Central bank is 12%. ($1 – 478.05 drams). -0-
