- What opportunities does COP17 create for the banking sector, & what should the international community understand about Armenia?
- COP17 presents an opportunity to demonstrate that sustainable finance goes beyond environmental commitments. It is not just about building a sustainable environment and growing businesses in a sustainable way; it is also about mobilizing capital for businesses and enhancing Armenia’s long-term competitiveness. It is important that the international community recognizes Armenia as a market with growing potential for sustainable investment, where the banking sector can support businesses and channel money into climate-aligned projects. Businesses can absorb those investments and use them to build greater resilience for future growth.
- What does carbon accounting change inside the bank?
- Joining the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials was an important step in moving from climate commitments towards measurable and data-driven actions. We use PCAF data to measure emissions. In 2025, we introduced environmental and social risks into our bank’s cost-of-risk calculation. In practice, we classify the client facility as low, medium or high risk in terms of environmental and social risks, and that impacts the lending proposal. We see that this policy has led our clients to become more aware and conscious of their impact on society and the environment.
- How is the bank using international partnerships to support greener investment in Armenia?
The €100 million partnership with the European Investment Bank represents an important milestone in our direct cooperation with the EIB. The facility expands access to long-term financing. It supports productive investments, modernization, technological development and long-term competitiveness. More than 10% of the facility is dedicated to green lending, including energy efficiency and renewable energy. It can also be allocated in local currency, helping businesses manage currency risks. We see the EIB partnership not only as a source of long-term financing, but also as a platform for strengthening financial connectivity and creating new opportunities to bring capital and expertise into Armenia.
“Ultimately, the strongest green investments are those where environmental & business cases reinforce each other.”
- What are Armenian businesses asking you to finance today, & how does this encourage greener technology?
Through the EBRD-GEFF facility, eligible businesses can benefit from technical support and financial incentives. Depending on the lending purpose and eligibility criteria, customers can get a 10% to 15% incentive, improving the economics of the investment. In many cases, we saw client business expenditures decrease by up to 30% to 40%. Client demand includes electric cars, rechargeable batteries and reduced dependence on conventional energy resources. Charging infrastructure is becoming increasingly relevant as businesses look for more efficient and sustainable transport solutions. Ultimately, we believe that the strongest green investments are those where environmental and business cases reinforce each other, as both work together.
If we look towards 2030, what role do you want the bank to play in shaping Armenia’s next generation of companies & investment?
We see Armenia and its next generation of growth being driven by innovation, technology, productivity and resilience. We see significant potential in businesses better equipped to compete internationally, adopt new technologies, improve efficiency and respond to changes in the global economy. Ardshinbank aims to support this evolution by financing investments that can turn those ambitions into long-term growth. We believe shaping this future is a shared effort. It requires a stronger connection between Armenian businesses, financial institutions, international investors and development partners, bringing together capital, knowledge, expertise and ambition to create economic value.
Ardshinbank: Armenia’s Best Bank Looks to a Greener Future
Euromoney named Ardshinbank Best Bank in Armenia for 2026; recognizing the performance, ambition and customer focus helping the bank finance Armenia’s next phase of growth. Its lending, digital development and service have strengthened a market position that carries real weight in the country’s economy. In 2025, its loan portfolio grew by 30.3%, its customer base exceeded 912,000, and corporate and SME loans reached $2.25 billion, almost doubling since 2024. Behind that scale are more than 2,300 employees, 73 branches and comprehensive mobile and online platforms connecting customers with the bank.
For Armenian businesses, that reach matters most when it opens doors. In 2026, Ardshinbank expanded automated online business lending and relaunched its SME digital platform, making finance more accessible and efficient for smaller enterprises. International partnerships are extending those possibilities: the European Investment Bank is developing a €100 million partnership with Ardshinbank to support Armenian businesses. These relationships strengthen the bank’s role as a bridge between Armenian companies and international financial institutions, helping businesses access capital to invest, modernize and adopt new technologies.
The next step is to connect that financial strength with Armenia’s sustainable development. Ardshinbank’s 2025–2027 strategy brings environmental, social and climate considerations into governance, risk management, products and portfolio development. During 2026, the bank is set to develop an internal green and sustainable lending taxonomy, giving this ambition a clearer framework.
There is already a tangible commitment behind it: at least 10% of the bank’s €100 million EIB facility is dedicated to green lending, including renewable energy and energy-efficiency investments. Its strategy also calls for environmental and social factors to enter credit-risk assessment from 2025. Sustainability thus becomes part of how financing decisions are made, alongside the bank’s continuing development of international connections and capital-market capabilities, including its 2026 bond activity.
Ardshinbank’s long-standing cooperation with EBRD supports greener technologies through the Green Economy Financing Facility. Eligible businesses can access technical assistance and financial incentives of 10–15%, depending on project eligibility. Financing covers electric vehicles, battery storage, energy efficiency and charging infrastructure, improving resource efficiency and making sustainable investments more accessible.
Together, these developments give Ardshinbank’s growth broader purpose. Digital access brings financing closer to businesses, international partnerships widen available capital, and sustainability considerations guide its deployment. This integrated financing model helps Armenian businesses turn ambition into investment, modernization and technological progress, supporting the country’s next chapter.
Forests store carbon & strengthen Armenia against climate change.
