Fitch affirms ratings of 3 Russian banks, outlooks positive

MOSCOW, Nov 23 (PRIME) -- International rating Fitch has affirmed long-term issuer default ratings in local and foreign currencies of Russia’s top lender Sberbank and state development bank Vnesheconombank (VEB) at BBB- and of Gazprombank at BB+ with positive outlooks, it said in a statement late on Thursday.

Ratings of subsidiaries Sberbank Leasing and VEB Leasing are affirmed at BBB- with positive outlooks, and of Gazprombank (Switzerland) at BB+ also with a positive outlook.

“(The ratings) reflect Fitch's view of a very high propensity of the Russian authorities to support the banks, in case of need,” the agency said.

End