OREANDA-NEWS. November 8, 2010. According to Elena Nikolayenko, Director of Methodology at the agency, the rating increase reflects the steady development of the Bank’s post-merger business; the rising percentage of the resource base accessed on market terms and a decline in dependence on affiliated parties; the systematic implementation of growth strategy; and a decline in reputation risks.

The rating is based on the support of the Bank's owner and membership in a larger financial group, solid ties to a circle of regular corporate clients, and an established business. Constraining factors include risks associated with the significant percentage of on-call obligations, the comparatively low transparency of business processes involving affiliated parties, a possible increase in credit risks, and low profitability.

Investbank is a mid-sized (by assets) private-sector bank controlled by Vladimir Antonov that took on its current shape following a merger with Grankombank, Voronezhprombank and Conversbank (the largest of the four financial institutions) in April 2008. Loans and other services for corporate and retail clients are its primary lines of business. Investbank works closely with affiliated financial structures both inside Russia and abroad. Its service network covers Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Sverdlovsk, Voronezh and Rostov regions and development strategy calls for energetic growth in retail and small-business loans and services, both in new regions and in areas where the Bank is already present.