OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch Ratings has affirmed the foreign currency Long-term Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) of Belarusbank (BBK), Belinvestbank (BIB), BPS-Sberbank (BPS), Belgazprombank (BGPB) and Bank BelVEB (BelVEB) at 'B-' with Stable Outlooks.

The affirmation of the banks' Long-term IDRs with Stable Outlooks reflects Fitch's base case expectation that Belarus will be able to avoid a full blown macroeconomic and banking crisis over the rating Outlook horizon (12 to 18 months). At the same time, downside risks for the banks' ratings remain significant, given structural weakness in the economy and pressures on external finances.