OREANDA-NEWS. RusRating has changed the outlook on ZAO AKB Express-Volga's credit rating from "positive" to "stable". The rating itself is unchanged at "BBB+" on the national scale and "BB" on the international scale.

The change in outlook reflects slowing growth in response to a broader weakening of market conditions in the banking sector.

The rating is based on the support of ProbusinessBank, moderately well-developed market positions at the regional level and healthy financial results.

Constraining factors include the limited diversification of both assets and liabilities by instrument type plus refinancing opportunities dependent on the financial stability of the LIFE group as a whole.

About the Bank

Express-Volga is a private-sector regional bank that ranks among the top one hundred in Russia by assets. The largest local player in Saratov region, it is a member of the LIFE group headed by Moscow-based ProbusinessBank, one of Russia's top one hundred credit organisations; the group has loan offices and other service locations in several regions of the country and includes six subsidiary banks plus Life Factoring and the real estate developer Probusiness-Development. Express-Volga's own operations focus on loans and other services for small and mid-sized businesses plus retail clients, mainly in its home region. Market positions at the regional level are moderately well developed. Express-Volga Bank is not active in the speculative markets.

Capital is sufficient and of good quality. External funding is solid and draws mainly on retail deposits. Most assets take the form of client loans or highly-liquid instruments; overall asset quality is rated satisfactory based on analysis of these categories. Earnings performance is strong. Overall risk sensitivity is moderate but trending upward. Liquidity is sufficient.