OREANDA-NEWS. October 19, 2011. The Standard & Poor’s Credit Ratings Services awarded the BB- long-term and B short-term counterparty ratings to the Russian commercial Bank, Sviaz-Bank, with a stable rating change forecast. The Ratings Services also gave the ruAA- rating on the national scale to the Bank, reported the press-centre of Sviaz-Bank.

Standard & Poor’s also notes that the current ratings ignore possible developments in view of the project to set up a Postal Bank and Sviaz-Bank’s involvement in it. Should the project go off, Sviaz-Bank might gain added advantages. The Stable forecast carries the international agency’s assumption that Sviaz-Bank would develop its business in its current market segment and retain its status of an important strategic subsidiary of the Vnesheconombank Group for at least another three to five years.

Judging by the agency’s opinion, Sviaz-Bank’s rating levels are evidence of the potential support from its majority shareholder, Vnesheconombank, its smooth-running relations with its key customers, and stability in the face of the market’s loss of confidence that is firmer than the average for the Russian banking system.