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 risk premium on Armenian Eurobonds has decreased significantly, from 400 to 190 basis points, stated Martin Galstyan, Governor of the Central Bank of Armenia.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts real GDP growth for Armenia at 5.3% in 2026 and 5.5% in 2027, according to the April World Economic Outlook, published on April 14.
The Central Bank of Armenia considers it important to address the challenges faced by real people and businesses, and it is through this lens that it views stablecoins as a strategic priority, stated Martin Galstyan, Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia.
At its meeting on Monday, Armenia's Parliamentary Committee on Financial, Credit, and Budgetary Affairs approved Martin Galstyan's candidacy for the position of Central Bank Governor, nominated by the ruling Civil Contract faction.
Armenia will receive $200 million (€170.3 million) from the World Bank to support its transition to a more competitive, globally integrated economy with responsible emissions management.
The State Revenue Committee (SRC) of Armenia reported the discovery of cases of large amounts of foreign currency in cash being imported into the country and its possible involvement in shadow circulation.
The likelihood of the Central Bank of Armenia switching to tougher monetary rhetoric and potentially raising the rate in the short term may increase, Rafael Mkrtchyan, Head of Corporate Finance at Freedom Broker Armenia, told ARKA news agency.
Martin Galstyan, Governor of the Central Bank of Armenia, responded to a question from the ARKA news agency about whether the regulator is considering drafting a law on tokenization.
