OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch Ratings has affirmed ProCredit Bank (Albania)'s (PCBA) Long-term Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at 'B' with a Stable Outlook and Viability Rating (VR) at 'b'. A full list of rating actions is at the end of this rating action commentary.

KEY RATING DRIVERS
IDRS, NATIONAL RATINGS AND SENIOR DEBT
PCBA's IDRs and Support Ratings reflect the likelihood of support from its parent, ProCredit Holding AG & Co. KGaA (PCH, BBB/Stable). However, the extent to which such support can be factored into the ratings is constrained by Fitch's assessment of country risks in Albania.

Fitch's view of support is based on 100% ownership by the parent, the strategic importance of south-eastern Europe to PCH, strong integration within the parent group and a track record of capital and liquidity support. Absent of country risk constraints, these considerations would typically be reflected in a one-notch differential between the rating of the parent, PCH, and that of PCBA.

The one-notch uplift of PCBA's local currency IDR above the foreign currency IDR reflects a lower probability of restrictions being placed on servicing of local currency obligations in case of systemic stress.

VR
PCBA's VR reflects a challenging operating environment, which makes the bank's performance more vulnerable to potential domestic market shocks. It also reflects asset quality and financial performance that have been weaker than regional peers in the PCH Group. The bank's Fitch Core Capital (FCC) ratio of 15.5% at end-3Q15 is only moderate, given the operating environment, the bank's asset quality and its exposure to the Albanian sovereign, which accounted for 108% of the bank's Fitch Core Capital.

However, our view is mitigated by sound reserve coverage of impaired loans (63% of impaired loans were covered by IFRS reserves at end-3Q15), and ordinary capital support from PCH. Although internal capital generation remains constrained by the bank's small size, financial performance has improved since its credit-risk driven losses in 2013. The bank benefits from a strong funding profile, and is nearly fully funded by local customer deposits, despite operating with a limited franchise of 2.7% of total banking sector assets at end-1H15. PCBA's risk management and corporate governance benefit from its participation in the PCH Group.

The bank reported an IFRS impaired loans ratio of 11.2% at end-3Q15, albeit based on a conservative approach to impairment, with a key trigger being loans past due 30 days. This ratio has improved from a high 13.8% at end-2013, as the bank has progressed in resolving weaknesses in its medium loan portfolio dating from 2013. At end-3Q15, the bank reported loans past due 30 days of 10.7%, compared with PCH Group's 4.6%. Coverage of these IFRS impaired loans with total IFRS reserves remains adequate at 64% at end-3Q15, and loans past due 90 days were more than fully covered at end-2015.

The bank's asset quality remains sensitive to the performance of a still high level of restructured loans (restructured but not impaired loans of 8% at end-3Q15) and to the performance of some of its larger SME exposures, given the bank's small overall size. PCBA is also open to indirect foreign currency risk in the event of a local currency devaluation against the euro in particular, as euro loans accounted for 38% of gross loans.

RATING SENSITIVITIES
IDRS, SUPPORT RATINGS
Changes in Fitch's view of country risks in Albania in either direction could affect PCBA's IDRs and Support Ratings. A downgrade could also result from evidence of reduced commitment from PCH to the bank, although this is currently not expected.

VR
The bank's VR is sensitive to the operating environment. Deterioration in asset quality or a sovereign debt crisis that puts pressure on the bank's capitalisation could also be negative for the VR. Positive pressure on the VR would depend on the bank making further progress in improving asset quality and in building a track record of stronger operating revenues, whilst maintaining current capital levels.

The rating actions are as follows:

Long-term foreign currency IDR affirmed at 'B'; Outlook Stable
Short-term foreign currency IDR affirmed at 'B'
Long-term local currency IDR affirmed at 'B+'; Outlook Stable
Short-term local currency IDR affirmed at 'B'
Viability Rating affirmed at 'b'
Support Rating affirmed at '4'.