Deposit Portfolio of AccessBank Increased 90%.

AccessBank announces results for the first half of 2009.

Baku, July 20, 2009. The results of the first half of 2009 again show the development of AccessBank. The assets of the bank increased 22% in the first six months of the year to reach USD 296 million on June 30th. AccessBank is one of the leading lenders in Azerbaijan and has continued to strengthen its position. Indeed, the loan portfolio of the bank reached USD 241 million after increasing 18% during the period.

Perhaps the best achievement of the first half of 2009 was the significant growth of the deposit portfolio, which has increased 90% since the beginning of the year. Making this even more significant is that the increase of the portfolio happened against the backdrop of general stagnation in the deposit market and again demonstrates the trust of the Azerbaijani people in AccessBank.

Anar Hasanov, Deputy General Manager and Retail Banking and Operations Manager of AccessBank, commenting on the results of the first half, said, “In looking at the results of the bank for the last six months, several major developments are reflected. First, the maintenance and growth of our large loan portfolio allowed for uninterrupted financing to all of our borrowers. Additionally, the deposit portfolio showed significant increases, reflecting the successful introduction of new products designed to meet the demands and needs of people at all financial levels in the country. The expansion of the branch network to reach previously underserved residents, the hard work of bank staff to reach new clients, and increasing trust due to AccessBank’s stability have also served to spur this significant growth, even as the general banking market struggled. With these results in mind, we are looking optimistically towards the future with the goal of ensuring our customers have a steady, trustworthy, and ever improving partner in AccessBank.”

Other important developments of the first half included: Two new branches were opened and over 150 new employees were recruited since the beginning of the year. In April 2009 the Fitch Rating Agency reconfirmed AccessBank as the highest rated private bank in Azerbaijan with BB+ rating. The Financial Times recognized AccessBank as one of the top three most sustainable banks in Eastern Europe at the 2009 Financial Times Sustainable Banking Conference held in London, which gathered financial leaders from around the world to discuss the major issues of finance in the current environment.