Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Center for Economic Research and Reforms has updated the rating of the most active banks in Uzbekistan. In the first quarter of this year. Ipoteka Bank showed the highest growth, taking 3rd place in the rating from 9th. At the same time, Hamkor Bank lost its leading positions and moved from second to fourth place.

Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) has developed the Banking Activity Index for 31 commercial banks in Uzbekistan. Based on the Index, the CERR updates the rating of banks on a quarterly basis. The study is conducted to monitor changes in the share of the private sector in banking assets, as well as to assess the effectiveness of reforms and transformation processes in the country's banking sector.

As of 1 March 2022, the assets of the banking system of the republic amounted to 436.8 trillion soums (growth by March 1, 2021 - 19.3%), liabilities - 365 trillion soums. amounts (growth 19%), loans - 327.2 trillion. soums (growth 16.8%), deposits - 148.4 trillion soums (growth 31.2%). Currently, 56.7 thousand people work in the banking system.

In the CERR study, banks were divided into two groups - large and small. The rating is compiled separately for each of these groups. At the same time, the group of small banks includes banks operating only in Tashkent (or only in one region).

Among 17 large banks, Trust Bank, having risen by 1 point, took 2nd place in the overall rating. The bank is among the leading banks in terms of liquidity, asset quality and profitability. However, the rating results show that the bank should pay attention to financial inclusion indicators, in particular, to the increase in the number of legal entities and individuals receiving loans per branch.

Of the existing banks that are in the process of transformation and privatization, Ipoteka-Bank moved up 6 points to 3rd place. This bank retains its leadership in terms of affordability and management quality. The low indicator on bank financial intermediation indicates the need to further increase the ratio of term deposits to loans, improve the efficiency of using funds received from other banks and financial institutions, as well as obligations to the Ministry of Finance.

"Uzpromstroybank" rose by 3 points in the overall rating and took 10th place. While the bank leads in terms of quality of management, there have been significant positive changes in terms of revenue potential and liquidity. The bank's financial intermediation and affordability indicators indicate the need to increase the ratio of term deposits to loans and reduce the share of liabilities to other banks and financial institutions, to the state in total liabilities.

The ongoing changes in the process of privatization of banks, as well as the growth of a competitive environment in the banking system, indicate the need for further development of private banks, in particular through the search for innovative financial products and services, the authors of the study believe.

Among the 14 small banks of Uzbekistan, Davrbank and Ziraat Bank became the most active in the first quarter, maintaining their leading positions.

At the same time, “Poytakht Bank”, having risen by one point, displaced “Anorbank” from the third place, which lost one point in the overall rating.