ArmSwissBank

ArmSwissBank CJSC is an Armenian banking institution based in Yerevan. It was established in February 2005 after receiving banking licence N84 from the Central Bank of Armenia. The bank developed as a private and investment bank, combining corporate and financial-sector services with activities in securities brokerage and custody. Soon after its banking authorisation, it obtained a brokerage licence, NBG 0064, and a custody licence, NPG 0065, allowing it to participate more broadly in Armenia’s capital-markets infrastructure. The institution’s business scope includes corporate lending, investment-banking services, securities brokerage, custody, foreign-exchange and payment-related services, and participation in capital-markets transactions. Its publicly documented financing relationships include cooperation with KfW and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development under renewable-energy and corporate-lending programmes. These relationships place the bank within Armenia’s development-finance and business-finance ecosystem, particularly in areas where international institutions support private-sector investment and energy projects. ArmSwissBank is also connected to international banking and trade-finance infrastructure. It is a member of Factors Chain International and has participated in payment and messaging systems including SWIFT, CBANet and BankMail. The bank’s correspondent relationships have included institutions such as Commerzbank, UBS, Raiffeisen and UniCreditBank, supporting cross-border transfers and access to international banking channels. A notable capital-markets transaction took place in December 2010, when ArmSwissBank acted as the sole underwriter for the second initial public offering of Artsakh HEK. The offering raised US$4.3 million on the Armenian Stock Exchange. During the same year, the bank was recognised by NASDAQ OMX Armenia as the Best Exchange Member in the government-bonds market. These activities illustrate its role not only as a deposit-taking bank but also as an intermediary in securities issuance and government-debt trading. The bank is a member of the European Business Association in Armenia. Public reference material identifies it as an Armenian financial institution with a domestic operating base and international financial connections. Detailed information about its current ownership, executive leadership, financial performance, branch network, and present product portfolio is not established in the supplied reference material.

ArmSwissBank was founded in Yerevan in February 2005 as an Armenian private and investment bank. Its entry into the financial system followed the issuance of banking licence N84 by the Central Bank of Armenia. The bank’s early regulatory expansion included a brokerage licence, NBG 0064, and a custody licence, NPG 0065. Those approvals enabled it to combine banking with securities-market services and positioned it to serve corporate clients, investors and issuers. The institution’s documented business model has included corporate lending, investment banking, securities brokerage and custody. It has also participated in development-finance programmes connected with renewable energy and corporate lending through cooperation with KfW and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. These relationships are significant in the context of Armenia’s financial market because they connect a local bank to international development institutions and projects requiring longer-term or specialised financing. ArmSwissBank has maintained links to international payment and trade-finance infrastructure. Its membership in Factors Chain International reflects an interest in factoring and receivables-related financial services. The bank has also joined SWIFT, CBANet and BankMail. These systems, together with correspondent relationships reported with Commerzbank, UBS, Raiffeisen and UniCreditBank, support communication, settlement and transfers involving banks outside Armenia. Its most clearly documented capital-markets milestone came in December 2010. ArmSwissBank acted as the sole underwriter for the second initial public offering of Artsakh HEK. The offering was fully subscribed and raised US$4.3 million on the Armenian Stock Exchange. The transaction demonstrated the bank’s capacity to support an issuer through a public securities offering and reinforced its role as an investment-banking intermediary. In the same year, NASDAQ OMX Armenia awarded ArmSwissBank the title of Best Exchange Member in the government-bonds market. This recognition points to activity in Armenia’s sovereign-debt trading and exchange infrastructure. Alongside underwriting and brokerage, government-bond market participation formed part of the bank’s capital-markets identity. ArmSwissBank is also listed as a member of the European Business Association in Armenia, reflecting participation in the country’s organised business community. The supplied reference material does not provide a detailed chronology of later ownership changes, executive appointments, acquisitions, branch expansion, financial results or product launches. Accordingly, the historical record is strongest for the bank’s establishment, licensing, international financial connections and 2010 securities-market achievements. Its current operating status is treated as active for this dossier, although current corporate and financial details should be verified directly against the bank and Armenian regulatory sources.

1. 2010Artsakh HEK second IPO underwritten

   ArmSwissBank acted as sole underwriter for Artsakh HEK’s second IPO, which raised US$4.3 million on the Armenian Stock Exchange.

   Source
2. 2010Government-bonds market recognition

   NASDAQ OMX Armenia recognised ArmSwissBank as the Best Exchange Member in the government-bonds market.

   Source
3. 2005Bank founded and licensed in Yerevan

   ArmSwissBank was established in February 2005 after receiving banking licence N84 from the Central Bank of Armenia.

   Source
4. 2005Brokerage and custody licences obtained

   The bank received brokerage licence NBG 0064 and custody licence NPG 0065, expanding its role into securities services.

   Source

A Yerevan-based Armenian private and investment bank with a focus on corporate finance, capital-markets intermediation, securities services, and internationally connected banking. Its documented cooperation with KfW and the EBRD gives it a role in renewable-energy and corporate-lending programmes.

• Corporate lendingBanking

  ArmSwissBank provides corporate-finance services and has collaborated with international development institutions on corporate-lending programmes. The supplied sources do not specify loan sizes, sector limits, pricing, eligibility rules or current product names.

• Renewable-energy financeDevelopment finance

  The bank has worked with KfW and the EBRD within renewable-energy financing programmes. These activities connect its Armenian banking platform with development-oriented lending for energy projects, although the available material does not identify individual projects or current programme terms.

• Brokerage and securities custodyCapital markets2005

  Brokerage and custody became part of the bank’s regulated activities after it obtained brokerage licence NBG 0064 and custody licence NPG 0065. These services support securities trading, safekeeping and related capital-markets activity.

• Investment banking and underwritingInvestment banking

  ArmSwissBank has participated in securities issuance and underwriting. Its documented role as sole underwriter of Artsakh HEK’s second IPO in 2010 is the clearest public example of its investment-banking offering.

• International payments and correspondent bankingTransaction banking

  Membership in SWIFT, CBANet and BankMail, together with correspondent relationships reported with Commerzbank, UBS, Raiffeisen and UniCreditBank, supports international transfers and bank-to-bank communications.

• 2010Underwriting of Artsakh HEK second IPOOther

  Artsakh HEK conducted a second initial public offering on the Armenian Stock Exchange.

  What changed. ArmSwissBank acted as the sole underwriter for the offering.

  Aftermath. The IPO was fully raised and generated US$4.3 million for the issuer.

  IPO proceeds. US$4.3 million raised (December 2010)

  Source
• 2005Expansion from banking into securities servicesStrategy

  After receiving its banking licence, ArmSwissBank pursued a broader financial-services model rather than limiting its activities to deposit-taking and lending.

  What changed. The institution obtained brokerage licence NBG 0064 and custody licence NPG 0065.

  Aftermath. The additional licences enabled the bank to participate in brokerage, custody and wider capital-markets activities.

  Source

• 2010ArmSwissBank underwrites Artsakh HEK second IPO

  ArmSwissBank served as the sole underwriter for Artsakh HEK’s second initial public offering. The transaction raised US$4.3 million on the Armenian Stock Exchange.

  Other
  Source
• 2010ArmSwissBank recognised in Armenia’s government-bonds market

  NASDAQ OMX Armenia named ArmSwissBank the Best Exchange Member in the government-bonds market.

  Other
  Source
• 2005ArmSwissBank receives an Armenian banking licence and begins operations

  ArmSwissBank was established in Yerevan in February 2005 after receiving banking licence N84 from the Central Bank of Armenia. It subsequently received brokerage and custody licences, broadening its activities beyond conventional banking.

  Other
  Source
• 2005ArmSwissBank expands its securities and custody activities

  Following its banking authorisation, the institution was granted brokerage licence NBG 0064 and custody licence NPG 0065.

  Other
  Source

1. ArmSwissBank
2. ArmSwissBank official website