ARMENIAN ARARATBANK OFFERS NEW PLASTIC CARD

ARKA
March 25, 2009

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. On the occasion of Motherhood and Beauty
Day, on April 7, the Armenian Araratbank offers its client a new
plastic card, NVER CARD (Present-card).

The bank’s press service reports that the new card affords an
opportunity to type the recipient’s name and any wishes to him or her.

The card holder will be able to see the wishes during the one-year
period the card will be in effect.

No payments for the card, opening and administration of accounts are
to be effected.

The annual card service fee is 1,500 AMD.

"The card is the best way of demonstrating the culture of giving
presents not only on April 7, but also wedding presents, presents on
other significant occasions, which has long been practiced worldwide,"
the report says.

The card has one more advantage – the holder can not only effect
noncash transactions, but also receive cash from any ATMs in Armenia
and in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR).

The new card can be received at both the Araratbank head office and
all the 25 branches.

Araratbank, legal successor of Armcommunicationsbank, was founded
on February 2, 1991. On October 31, 1996, the bank received Banking
License #4.

Among the bank’s stockholders is the European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development (EBRD). The principal stockholder is the owner of the
Flash Company Barseg h Beglaryan, who holds 74.1% of the Araratbank
stock.

As of December 31, 2008, the bank’s assets amounted to 29.7bln AMD,
liabilities 22.2bln AMD, total capital 7.5bln AMD, credit investments
12.2bln AMD, liabilities to clients 16.4bln AMD and net profit
594.2mln AMD.

On January 30, 2009, Araratbank joined the NASDAQ OMX Armenia stock
exchange.