Clarification on Interbank Card Center Tariffs
The Central Bank of Azerbaijan announced that new service fees and tariffs regarding the Interbank Card Center (BKM) apply exclusively to participating financial institutions and payment organizations, not directly to individual citizens (axar.az).
Lending & deposits
AccessBank and Expressbank Q3 Financial Updates
AccessBank released its financial results for the third quarter of 2026, maintaining its strong market position in micro, small, and medium enterprise lending (apa.az). Meanwhile, Expressbank reported solid growth across key metrics, registering a 65% increase in net income and a 19.5% expansion in its deposit portfolio (axar.az).
Bank Avrasiya Q3 Profitability Drops
Bank Avrasiya ASC announced its Q3 results, recording a 30% decrease in net profit down to 3 million 996 thousand manats (apa.az).
Payments & fintech
ABB Launches Buy-Now-Pay-Later for Travel
As part of its lifestyle banking strategy, ABB has introduced a new financing option allowing customers to book airline tickets through DigiTravel immediately and pay for them later (axar.az, apa.az).
Insurance
Black Sea Shipping and Insurance Crisis
Investors and international insurance companies engaging in maritime trade with Ukraine in the Black Sea are currently facing one of their most severe crises due to ongoing regional security disruptions (axar.az).
Market signals
Growing consumer and lifestyle banking integration, evidenced by ABB's new deferred-payment travel feature (axar.az, apa.az).
Diverging profitability trends among mid-tier Azerbaijani banks, with Expressbank posting strong net income and deposit growth while Bank Avrasiya experiences a profit contraction (apa.az, axar.az).
Risks to watch
Escalating geopolitical tensions and active conflicts in the Black Sea and Strait of Hormuz severely threatening marine trade routes and inflating international shipping insurance risks (axar.az, apa.az).
Actionable insights
Review current institutional exposure and risk management frameworks regarding trade finance and marine insurance policies in light of Black Sea and Hormuz shipping disruptions (axar.az, apa.az).
Analyze Q3 financial statements of peer institutions to benchmark deposit portfolio growth and net interest margins following Expressbank's and AccessBank's disclosures (apa.az, axar.az).
Communicate clearly to retail customers that recent BKM infrastructure tariff updates do not affect consumer-facing card transaction fees (axar.az).
