Since July 1, 2026, financial institutions in Armenia providing remote services have implemented the "STOP" mechanism, allowing customers to independently restrict individual transactions or completely block remote financial services.
Risks to financial stability in Armenia are mitigated by banks' strong capital and liquidity positions, according to the international ratings agency Fitch Ratings.
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 recommendations of the MONEYVAL report on Armenia do not pose a direct threat to the country's economy, but their implementation must be proportionate and not create unjustified barriers for bona fide businesses and investors, according to economist Hrant Mikaelyan.
The report of the Council of Europe Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL) on Armenia documented the country's progress in developing its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing systems, but identified insufficient effectiveness in investigations, prosecutions, and confiscation of criminal assets, as well as the need for stronger oversight in several economic sectors.
Armenia's international foreign exchange reserves have reached a record high, but their sufficiency to cover the country's external needs in the medium term will remain below the average for countries with similar credit ratings, according to a report by the international rating agency Fitch Ratings.
The international rating agency Fitch Ratings expects inflation in Armenia to average 4.4% in 2026, after which it will gradually return to its target level of 3%.
International rating agency Fitch Ratings has affirmed Armenia's long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at 'BB-' with a Positive Outlook.
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
Since July 1, 2026, financial institutions in Armenia providing remote services have implemented the "STOP" mechanism, allowing customers to independently restrict individual transactions or completely block remote financial services.
Risks to financial stability in Armenia are mitigated by banks' strong capital and liquidity positions, according to the international ratings agency Fitch Ratings.
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 recommendations of the MONEYVAL report on Armenia do not pose a direct threat to the country's economy, but their implementation must be proportionate and not create unjustified barriers for bona fide businesses and investors, according to economist Hrant Mikaelyan.
The report of the Council of Europe Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL) on Armenia documented the country's progress in developing its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing systems, but identified insufficient effectiveness in investigations, prosecutions, and confiscation of criminal assets, as well as the need for stronger oversight in several economic sectors.
Armenia's international foreign exchange reserves have reached a record high, but their sufficiency to cover the country's external needs in the medium term will remain below the average for countries with similar credit ratings, according to a report by the international rating agency Fitch Ratings.
The international rating agency Fitch Ratings expects inflation in Armenia to average 4.4% in 2026, after which it will gradually return to its target level of 3%.
International rating agency Fitch Ratings has affirmed Armenia's long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at 'BB-' with a Positive Outlook.
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 identified the services sector, construction, and industry as the main drivers of economic growth in Armenia in January–May 2026.
The week in Armenia's financial market was dominated by the debt agenda, Central Bank statements, currency dynamics, and decisions regarding non-cash payments.
Net non-commercial remittances in Armenia increased by 11.7% year-on-year in March, following a 5.2% year-on-year increase in February, according to the World Bank's "Armenia Monthly Economic Update – May 2026."
Last week's agenda included issues of credit institution sustainability, public debt structure, capital market development, and digital financial services. Special attention was paid to SME access to bank financing, Open Banking, and insurance technologies.
The volume of loans issued by commercial banks in Armenia as of the end of March 2026 amounted to 8,163,745 million drams, compared to 8,035,184 million drams at the end of February, according to data from the Statistical Committee.
The total assets of Armenia's credit institutions as of March 31, 2026, amounted to 882.4 billion drams, an increase of 11.87% compared to March 31, 2025. This is evidenced by the consolidated financial report of the country's credit institutions.
At the end of 2025, the total revenue of audit firms (a combination of audit and other services) in Armenia amounted to approximately AMD 16.2 billion, representing an increase of approximately 18% compared to the previous year.
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.
Last week, the focus in Armenia was on changes in bank taxation, the development of a new law on payment services, and the transformation of investment companies.
