Azerbaijan, Baku, 31 May / Trend E. Aliyev /
As of May 1 2013, total assets of Azerbaijani banks totaled 18.979 billion manat, or 28.7 percent more than in the same period of 2012, according to the statistical report of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA).
The basis of the banking sector's assets (62.6 percent) was formed of loans to customers in the amount of 11.887 billion manat (a 28.36 percent increase over a year), investments (1.604 billion manat, increasing by 23.18 percent) and funds on correspondent accounts (1.308 billion manat with a decline of 13.07 percent). Loans and deposits to financial sector amounted to 669 million manat (a 19.91 percent growth).
In the structure of liabilities, the bulk (44.34 percent) accounts for deposits (8.415 billion), increasing by 18.64 percent compared to the amount by May 1, 2012. Loans and deposits from the financial sector amounted to 5.448 billion manat (28.7 percent in the structure of liabilities), increasing by 18.64 percent.
In April 2013, the total liabilities of the banking sector of Azerbaijan increased by 2.7 percent to16.265 billion manat. For comparison, the figure for the same period in 2012 amounted to 12.586 billion manat.
Domestic banks' capital continued to rise, although there are still some banks in the banking sector that do not meet minimum regulatory capital requirements (10 million manat). During the reporting period, capitalization of the banking sector of Azerbaijan in relation to the same period in 2012 increased by 25.96 percent, amounting to 2.714 billion manat by May 1.
According to CBA, the number of banks with capital exceeding 10 million manat has reached 41 during the reporting period, while in January-April of last year the number was 42. The share of these banks in the total capital of all banks in the country by the end of the reporting period stood at 99.7 percent.
There were no banks with a capital of 5-10 million manat within the reporting period, whereas in April last year, one such bank was present in the banking market. This bank has moved into the category of banks with a capital of 3.5-5 million manat. There were two such banks by the end of the reporting period.
The share of these banks in the total capital of all banks in the country by the end of the reporting period amounted to 0.3 percent.
There are 43 banks operating in Azerbaijan.
The official exchange rate on May 31 is 0.7846 AZN / USD.