The implementation of the Open Banking model in Armenia is aimed at expanding consumer options in their dealings with financial institutions, Martin Galstyan, Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia, told reporters on the sidelines of the "SME Sector: Impact and Development Challenges" conference.
The Central Bank of Armenia, together with the Ministry of Economy and partners from the World Bank, is discussing a mechanism for providing partial guarantees for small and micro businesses through a special guarantee fund.
Small and medium businesses account for approximately 37% of Armenia's economy and receive approximately 60% of business loans, stated Daniel Azatyan, Chairman of the Union of Banks of Armenia.
The Central Bank of Armenia has initiated a program to support small and medium-sized businesses, under which interest rates on loans for companies with good credit and tax histories may be reduced by 1-1.5%, stated Central Bank Chairman Martin Galstyan.
As of March 31, 2026, the total loan portfolio of Armenian banks stood at AMD 8.01 trillion, marking a 22.63% rise compared to March 31, 2025, and a 4.05% increase from December 31, 2025.
The loan portfolio of Armenia's banking system increased by 29.89% in the third quarter of 2025 compared to the same quarter of 2024, reaching AMD 7.16 trillion.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is one of the leading institutional investors in Armenia, and to date has invested over €3 billion in Armenia through 245 projects, 85% of which are in the private sector.
Small and medium businesses account for approximately 37% of Armenia's economy and receive approximately 60% of business loans, stated Daniel Azatyan, Chairman of the Union of Banks of Armenia.
Inflation in Armenia accelerated in April amid rising prices for food and non-food products, according to the Eurasian Development Bank's weekly macro review.
In the Armenian consumer market, 12-month inflation in April of this year amounted to 5.3%, according to a report from the Statistical Committee of Armenia.
The net inflow of cross-border transfers to individuals in Armenia, received from abroad through the Armenian banking system, amounted to $458.2 million in January-March 2026, compared to $143.7 million in January-March 2025, according to a report from the Central Bank.
Amid the S&P 500's worst quarter since 2022, rising global anxiety, and persistent geopolitical uncertainty, investors are increasingly asking whether this is a temporary market reaction or a deeper shift in investment logic.
Capital market development in Armenia is increasingly dependent not only on the growth in the number of issues and the expansion of instruments, but also on the quality of the environment in which investors make decisions.
The digital infrastructure of the Armenian capital market has made significant progress in recent years, but the market still lacks a more robust regulatory and technological framework for the full development of new financial instruments.
The capital market of Armenia is undergoing a significant transformation: there is an increasing interest in bonds, foreign investors are becoming more engaged, and there is a rising demand for new financial instruments, ranging from IPOs to digital assets
The implementation of the Open Banking model in Armenia is aimed at expanding consumer options in their dealings with financial institutions, Martin Galstyan, Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia, told reporters on the sidelines of the "SME Sector: Impact and Development Challenges" conference.
The Central Bank of Armenia, together with the Ministry of Economy and partners from the World Bank, is discussing a mechanism for providing partial guarantees for small and micro businesses through a special guarantee fund.
Small and medium businesses account for approximately 37% of Armenia's economy and receive approximately 60% of business loans, stated Daniel Azatyan, Chairman of the Union of Banks of Armenia.
The Central Bank of Armenia has initiated a program to support small and medium-sized businesses, under which interest rates on loans for companies with good credit and tax histories may be reduced by 1-1.5%, stated Central Bank Chairman Martin Galstyan.
As of March 31, 2026, the total loan portfolio of Armenian banks stood at AMD 8.01 trillion, marking a 22.63% rise compared to March 31, 2025, and a 4.05% increase from December 31, 2025.
The loan portfolio of Armenia's banking system increased by 29.89% in the third quarter of 2025 compared to the same quarter of 2024, reaching AMD 7.16 trillion.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is one of the leading institutional investors in Armenia, and to date has invested over €3 billion in Armenia through 245 projects, 85% of which are in the private sector.
Small and medium businesses account for approximately 37% of Armenia's economy and receive approximately 60% of business loans, stated Daniel Azatyan, Chairman of the Union of Banks of Armenia.
Inflation in Armenia accelerated in April amid rising prices for food and non-food products, according to the Eurasian Development Bank's weekly macro review.
In the Armenian consumer market, 12-month inflation in April of this year amounted to 5.3%, according to a report from the Statistical Committee of Armenia.
The net inflow of cross-border transfers to individuals in Armenia, received from abroad through the Armenian banking system, amounted to $458.2 million in January-March 2026, compared to $143.7 million in January-March 2025, according to a report from the Central Bank.
Amid the S&P 500's worst quarter since 2022, rising global anxiety, and persistent geopolitical uncertainty, investors are increasingly asking whether this is a temporary market reaction or a deeper shift in investment logic.
Capital market development in Armenia is increasingly dependent not only on the growth in the number of issues and the expansion of instruments, but also on the quality of the environment in which investors make decisions.
The digital infrastructure of the Armenian capital market has made significant progress in recent years, but the market still lacks a more robust regulatory and technological framework for the full development of new financial instruments.
The capital market of Armenia is undergoing a significant transformation: there is an increasing interest in bonds, foreign investors are becoming more engaged, and there is a rising demand for new financial instruments, ranging from IPOs to digital assets
The implementation of the Open Banking model in Armenia is aimed at expanding consumer options in their dealings with financial institutions, Martin Galstyan, Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia, told reporters on the sidelines of the "SME Sector: Impact and Development Challenges" conference.
The Central Bank of Armenia, together with the Ministry of Economy and partners from the World Bank, is discussing a mechanism for providing partial guarantees for small and micro businesses through a special guarantee fund.
Small and medium businesses account for approximately 37% of Armenia's economy and receive approximately 60% of business loans, stated Daniel Azatyan, Chairman of the Union of Banks of Armenia.
The Central Bank of Armenia has initiated a program to support small and medium-sized businesses, under which interest rates on loans for companies with good credit and tax histories may be reduced by 1-1.5%, stated Central Bank Chairman Martin Galstyan.
The week in the Armenian financial market was influenced by decisions and statements by the Central Bank, updated macroeconomic data, and capital market activity.
Inflation in Armenia accelerated in April amid rising prices for food and non-food products, according to the Eurasian Development Bank's weekly macro review.
“Yerevan Dialogue 2026” forum held on May 5–6 brought together senior government representatives, private sector leaders, NGOs, academics, youth, and other stakeholders in the immediate aftermath of the European Political Community Summit in Yerevan.
CBA Bank, in a new partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, will allocate 100 million euros to the development of businesses operating in Armenia, with the EBRD bearing the risk of 50 million euros of the financing.
The international FINTECH360 conference took place in Yerevan, bringing together around 500 participants from more than 30 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Switzerland, Cyprus, Latvia, Luxembourg, Romania, UAE, India, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Moldova, Uzbekistan, Georgia, and others.
Armenia's loan portfolio has grown by approximately 20% annually for the past three years, Central Bank Governor Martin Galstyan announced at a parliamentary session on Tuesday.
Armenia needs high-quality projects that could be financed by banks and pension funds, stated Martin Galstyan, Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia.
At its meeting on Tuesday, the Central Bank's Board left the refinancing rate unchanged for the fourth consecutive time at 6.5%, the regulator's press service reported.
