ACBA-Credit Agricole bank, Ardshininvestbank, Unibank, Armeconombank, Ameriabank top ARKA News Agency’s quarterly press rating

YEREVAN, May 7. /ARKA/. ARKA News Agency has issued its Q1 2009 press rating of Armenian banks.

During the period under review, Armenia’s top five commercial banks were ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank (1), Ardshininvestbank (2), Unibank (3), Armeconombank (4) and Ameriabank (5).

The agency observed a considerable decline in media coverage of banks in Q1 2009, compared to the same period last year.

Media reports of banks fell 21.9% year-on-year by end-Q1, with negative coverage of the banking sector reaching 5.8%, compared to 4.2% during the same period last year.

Quarterly reports on Armenia’s bank customers and services rose from 1.2% to 8.9% year-on-year. General information about local banks rose from 47.1% to 61% during the reporting period. Opinions and economic forecasts of bankers dropped from 4.2% to 3.8%. Coverage about tasks and programs for strategic development decreased from 32.4% to 18.5%. Information about banking activities in figures went down from 15% to 7.7%.

According to the quarterly press-rating of ARKA, ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank became the leader of the heading General (71.68). Ameriabank topped the heading Bank Development Policy (76.9). Unibank led the headings Banking Activities in Figures (30.76) and Clients and Services (51.2). Armeconombank topped Opinions and Economic Forecasts (7.68).

Two banks were included in all the headings in Q1 2009, compared to one bank in Q1 2008.

The press-rating of the ARKA News Agency makes it possible to determine banks’ communication policy and other development trends in the banking system. The press-rating is based on the principle of multifunctional application of initial data. The press-rating of banks reveals their communication policy, willingness for contacts with clients, being an essential image-making factor, and can help consumers in finding their bearings in Armenia’s banking system.

The press-rating does not contain any recommendations on operations conducted by the banks in question. It is based on public sources, with the ARKA News Agency not being responsible for their reliability.

To learn more about the quarterly Press Rating of the Banks, read Issue #02(41), Q1, 2009. Z. Sh. –0--