YEREVAN, February 4. /ARKA/. Unibank’s Data Processing Center (DPC) has entirely switched to solar panel-generated power. ‘This is the first bank data processing center in Armenia that operates on a renewable energy source, the press service of the bank reported.
Unibank’s Data Processing Center was created in 2016 to process and store large amounts of information. The center ensures the smooth operation of the bank’s server, network and communication equipment.
The planned energy transition for the purpose of decarbonization is one of the main components of Unibank’s development strategy. Switching the DPC to solar energy performs two tasks at once: it helps to protect the environment, and also increases the autonomy of the complex, while ensuring its maximum efficiency.
“We have long been interested in the prospects of replacing traditional energy sources. This is a global trend supported also by our team. We feel responsible to future generations and strive to ensure that our activities do not contribute to climate change. As part of our corporate social responsibility, we will keep on investing in green projects, thereby reducing the negative impact on the environment,” commented Mesrop Hakobyan, Unibank’s Board Chairman.
In Europe and the United States, more and more businesses are switching to green generators. According to the British think tank Ember, in 2020, renewables in the European Union produced more electricity for the first time in world history than gas and coal.
The efficiency and the feasibility of using renewable sources largely depend on the natural characteristics of the region. Armenia is a sunny country. The annual inflow of solar energy in the territory of the Republic of Armenia is 1.7 times higher than the average for Europe.
The use of solar energy will fully meet the energy needs and trouble-free operation of the data processing center, which will allow the bank to increase its mobility. This is an important advantage that makes the center an autonomous system, independent of the city’s power grid. Thanks to uninterruptible power supplies, the center is protected from force majeure situations: if necessary, it can also be relocated to another location.
Unibank started its activity in 2001. The founders of the bank are Gagik Zakaryan and George Piskov.
The bank runs 53 branches and more than 100 promo points across Armenia. Unibank is one of the leaders in the retail market. To provide its customers with modern services, the bank actively uses financial technologies and innovations.
Unibank was one of the first banks in Armenia to automate the process of considering loan applications, and in 2020 introduced artificial intelligence technology in credit scoring, which made it possible to process large amounts of information more quickly and efficiently, analyze customer behavior and model their profile with high accuracy.
In 2018, SME Banking Club awarded Unibank the Most Innovative Bank 2018 certificate.
The SPEAR’S Russia Wealth Management Awards 2018 named Unibank Privé the winner in the category “Best Private Banking Client Service in the CIS.”
One of the important steps in the development of Unibank was the IPO conducted in 2015. In 2020, the bank’s US dollar-denominated bonds passed a secondary listing on the Moscow Exchange and became available to a wide range of Russian investors.
In 2020, the international payment system Visa awarded the bank the Sustainability Icon award, highly appreciating the results of the successful partnership.
The international agency Moody’s Investors Service has assigned a credit rating of B2 to Unibank with “stable” outlook. -0-
