Armenia: lending & credit regulation

The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) serves as the primary supervisor for lending and consumer credit activities, operating under the framework of the Law on Banks and Banking Activity and related prudential regulations. The regulatory environment is characterized by strict oversight of credit risk management, as evidenced by recent amendments to prudential standards regarding external rating organizations.

Recent regulatory activity focuses on enhancing the quality of credit risk calculations. The CBA has issued resolutions amending standards to impose strict eligibility criteria, including capital thresholds, for external rating agencies used in risk assessment. This indicates a continued direction of travel towards strengthening prudential controls and data integrity within the lending sector.

While specific licensing categories for non-bank consumer credit are not detailed in the provided source documents, the CBA's active role in updating prudential norms for credit risk suggests a comprehensive regulatory approach. The focus remains on ensuring financial stability through rigorous risk management standards for regulated entities.