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 Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has granted Ardshinbank a credit line in the amount of USD 20 million for a period of 3 years to provide financial support to the country’s small and medium-sized businesses. A relevant agreement was signed on September 7, 2021 by EDB Management Board Chairman Nikolay Podguzov, and Ardshinbank Management Board Chairman Artak Ananyan
As part of the annual survey to compile the Rating of the safest banks in the world, the famous American magazine "Global Finance" for the fourth time recognized Ardshinbank as "The Safest Bank in Armenia for 2020''
Fitch Ratings has revised the Outlooks on ACBA-CREDIT AGRICOLE CJSC's (ACBA) and Ardshinbank CJSC's (Ardshin) Long-Term Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) to Negative from Stable and affirmed the IDRs at 'B+', according to the agency’s press release
Ardshinbank has received the fifth facility from the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) in the amount of USD 20 million to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Armenia
Fitch Ratings has affirmed ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank CJSC's (ACBA) and Ardshinbank CJSC's (Ardshin) Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at 'B+' with Stable Outlooks
Fitch Ratings has assigned 'B+'/ 'RR4' to the Eurobonds of Armenia's Ardshinbank, issued in the largest-ever for Armenia amount - USD300 million, at the lowest rate - 6.5% and the maturity term in 2025
Ardshinbank has issued Eurobons in unprecedented amount - USD 300 million at the lowest ever interest rate - 6.5%, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reported Thursday on his Facebook page
For the first time, Ardshinbank has implemented a trade finance deal with the International Bank for Economic Cooperation (IBEC) under the General Financing Agreement signed in September 2019, the press office of Ardshinbank reported on Friday
On August 10, based on the decision of the Board of Directors of Ardshinbank, Artak Kliment Ananyan was appointed as the Chairman of the Management Board of Ardshinbank