Frankfurt, January 08, 2010 -- Moody's Investors Service has today upgraded the foreign currency deposit
ratings of 16 Turkish banks to Ba3 (stable outlook) from B1. At
the same time, the banks' local currency deposit ratings and
national scale ratings have been affirmed. These rating actions
are the direct result of Moody's decision today to upgrade Turkey's country
ceiling for foreign currency deposits to Ba3 (stable outlook) from B1
and government bond rating to Ba2 (stable outlook) from Ba3. The
foreign currency deposit ratings of the 16 banks have moved in tandem
with the upgrade of the country ceiling, which continues to constrain
the ratings.
The ratings of Export Credit Bank of Turkey, Finans Finansal Kiralama,
Ekspo Faktoring and C-Faktoring are not affected by these rating
actions.
Moody's continues to believe that the Turkish government has a strong
willingness and ability to support its banks, if needed.
In light of the upgrade of the Turkish government's local currency
bond rating, Moody's new systemic support indicator for Turkey has
been set at Baa3, up from Ba1. The systemic support input
is two notches above the government's Ba2 local currency bond rating.
This two-notch difference between the systemic support indicator
and the government's rating reflects Moody's assessment of the Turkish
government's strong ability and willingness to support the banking system,
its broad array of financial and non-financial tools and the system's
intrinsic strength, demonstrated during the ongoing crisis and past
global downturns. However, the new systemic support input
does not result in any uplift for the bank ratings.
A detailed list of ratings affected follows below:
LIST OF RATING ACTIONS
The following rating actions were taken today:
(i) Akbank TAS: the long-term foreign currency deposit rating
was upgraded to Ba3 from B1. The Baa1/P-2 global local currency
(GLC) deposit ratings were affirmed. All ratings have a stable
outlook.
(ii) Anadolubank AS: the long-term foreign currency deposit
rating was upgraded to Ba3 from B1. The Ba1/NP GLC ratings were
affirmed. All ratings have a stable outlook.
(iii) Asya Katilim Bankasi AS: the long-term foreign currency
deposit rating was upgraded to Ba3 from B1. The Ba2/NP GLC deposit
ratings and the A3.tr /TR-1 national scale ratings were
affirmed. All ratings have a stable outlook.
(iv) Bankpozitif Kredit ve Kalkinma Bankasi AS: the long-term
foreign currency deposit rating was upgraded to Ba3 from B1. The
Baa3/P-3 GLC deposit ratings were affirmed. All ratings
have a stable outlook.
(v) Denizbank AS: the long-term foreign currency deposit
rating was upgraded to Ba3 from B1. The Baa2/P-2 GLC deposit
ratings were affirmed. All ratings have a stable outlook.
(vi) Eurobank Tekfen AS: the long-term foreign currency deposit
rating was upgraded to Ba3 from B1. The Ba1/NP GLC deposit ratings
were affirmed. All ratings have a stable outlook.
(vii) Finansbank AS: the long-term foreign currency deposit
rating was upgraded to Ba3 with a stable outlook from B1. The A3
long-term GLC deposit rating (negative outlook) and P-2
short-term rating were affirmed.
(viii) HSBC Bank AS: the long-term foreign currency deposit
rating was upgraded to Ba3 from B1. The A3/P-2 GLC deposit
ratings were affirmed. All ratings have a stable outlook.
(ix) T.C. Ziraat Bankasi AS: the long-term
foreign currency deposit rating was upgraded to Ba3 from B1. The
Baa3/P-3 GLC deposit ratings were affirmed. All ratings
have a stable outlook.
(x) Turk Ekonomi Bankasi AS: the long-term foreign currency
deposit rating was upgraded to Ba3 from B1. The Baa2/P-2
GLC deposit ratings were affirmed. All ratings have a stable outlook.
(xi) Turkiye Garanti Bankasi AS: the long-term foreign currency
deposit rating was upgraded to Ba3 from B1. The Baa1/P-2
GLC deposit ratings and the Aa1.tr/TR1 national scale ratings were
affirmed. All ratings have a stable outlook.
(xii) Turkiye Halk Bankasi AS: the long-term foreign currency
deposit rating was upgraded to Ba3 from B1. The Baa3/P-3
GLC deposit ratings were affirmed. All ratings have a stable outlook.
(xiii) Turkiye Is Bankasi AS: the long-term foreign currency
deposit rating was upgraded to Ba3 from B1. The Baa2/P-2
GLC deposit ratings were affirmed. All ratings have a stable outlook.
(xiiv) Turkiye Sinai Kalkinma Bankasi AS: the long-term foreign
currency deposit rating was upgraded to Ba3 from B1. The Baa2/P-2
GLC deposit ratings were affirmed. All ratings have a stable outlook.
(xv) Turkiye Vakiflar Bankasi TAO: the long-term foreign
currency deposit rating was upgraded to Ba3 from B1. The Baa3/P-3
GLC deposit ratings were affirmed. All ratings have a stable outlook.
(xvi) Yapi ve Kredi Bankasi AS: the long-term foreign currency
deposit rating was upgraded to Ba3 from B1. The Baa1/P-2
GLC deposit ratings and the Aa2.tr/TR1 national scale ratings were
affirmed. All ratings have a stable outlook.
PREVIOUS RATING ACTIONS AND PRINCIPAL METHODOLOGIES
The last rating action on Akbank TAS was implemented on 9 November 2009,
when its long-term local currency deposit rating was downgraded
to Baa1, with a stable outlook, from A3, within the
context of Moody's global review of the systemic support available to
banks in non-Aaa systems. Its other ratings were unaffected.
The last rating action on Anadolubank AS was implemented on 9 November
2009, when its BFSR was upgraded to D+ from D, which
maps to a Ba1 BCA. The bank's Ba1 long-term local currency
deposit rating was confirmed with a stable outlook. Its other ratings
were unaffected.
The last rating action on Asya Katilim Bankasi AS was implemented on 9
November 2009, when its long-term local currency deposit
rating was downgraded to Ba2 with a stable outlook from Ba1. The
national scale rating was downgraded to A3.tr from A1.tr
and the short-term rating confirmed at TR-1. The
rating actions were taken within the context of Moody's global review
of the systemic support available to banks in non-Aaa systems.
Its other ratings were unaffected.
The last rating action on Bankpozitif AS was implemented on 24 September
2009, when the outlook on its B1 long-term foreign currency
deposit rating was changed to positive from stable. Its other ratings
were unaffected.
The last rating action on Denizbank AS was implemented on 9 November 2009,
when its long-term local currency deposit rating was downgraded
to Baa2 with a stable outlook from Baa1, within the context of Moody's
global review of the systemic support available to banks in non-Aaa
systems. Its other ratings were unaffected.
The last rating action on Eurobank Tekfen AS was implemented on 24 September
2009, when the outlook on its B1 long-term foreign currency
deposit rating was changed to positive from stable. Its other ratings
were unaffected.
The last rating action on Finansbank AS was implemented on 23 December
2009, when the outlook on its A3 long-term global local currency
deposit rating was changed to negative from stable. This was the
direct result of Moody's downgrade of the BFSR of National Bank of Greece
(NBG) to C with a negative outlook. NBG is Finansbank's controlling
shareholder with 95% ownership. Finansbank's other ratings
were unaffected.
The last rating action on HSBC Bank AS was implemented on 24 September
2009, when the outlook on its B1 long-term foreign currency
deposit rating was changed to positive from stable. Its other ratings
were unaffected.
The last rating action on T.C. Ziraat Bankasi AS was implemented
on 9 November 2009, when its local currency deposit ratings were
downgraded to Baa3/Prime-3 with a stable outlook from Baa1/Prime-2,
within the context of Moody's global review of the systemic support available
to banks in non-Aaa systems. Its other ratings were unaffected.
Meanwhile, its BCA was raised to Baa3 from Ba1 (i.e.
still mapping from a D+ BFSR).
The last rating action on Turk Ekonomi Bankasi AS was implemented on 9
November 2009, when its long-term local currency deposit
rating was downgraded to Baa2 with a stable outlook from Baa1, within
the context of Moody's global review of the systemic support available
to banks in non-Aaa systems. Its other ratings were unaffected.
The last rating action on Turkiye Garanti Bankasi AS was implemented on
9 November 2009, when its long-term local currency deposit
rating was downgraded to Baa1 with a stable outlook from A3 and its long-term
national scale rating was downgraded to Aa1.tr from Aaa.tr,
within the context of Moody's global review of the systemic support available
to banks in non-Aaa systems. Its other ratings were unaffected.
The last rating action on Turkiye Halk Bankasi AS was implemented on 30
December 2009, when the bank was assigned first-time ratings:
a BFSR of D+, local currency deposit ratings of Baa3/Prime-3
and foreign currency deposit ratings of B1/Not Prime. The outlook
on the foreign currency deposit ratings was positive, but was stable
on all the other ratings.
The last rating action on Turkiye Is Bankasi AS was implemented on 9 November
2009, when its BFSR was upgraded to C- from D+ (resulting
in the BCA being raised to Baa2 from Baa3). The bank's long-term
local currency deposit rating was downgraded to Baa2 with a stable outlook
from A3, within the context of Moody's global review of the systemic
support available to banks in non-Aaa systems. Its Prime-2
short-term local currency deposit rating was confirmed and its
other ratings were unaffected.
The last rating action on Turkiye Sinai Kalkinma Bankasi AS was implemented
on 9 November 2009, when its long-term local currency deposit
rating was downgraded to Baa2 with a stable outlook from Baa1, within
the context of Moody's global review of the systemic support available
to banks in non-Aaa systems. Its Prime-2 short-term
local currency deposit rating was confirmed and its other ratings were
unaffected.
The last rating action on Turkiye Vakiflar Bankasi TAO was implemented
on 9 November 2009, when its local currency deposit ratings were
downgraded to Baa3/Prime-3 with a stable outlook from Baa1/Prime-2,
within the context of Moody's global review of the systemic support available
to banks in non-Aaa systems. Its other ratings were unaffected.
Meanwhile, its BCA was raised to Baa3 from Ba1 within the D+
BFSR category.
The last rating action on Yapi ve Kredi Bankasi AS was implemented on
9 November 2009, when its long-term local currency deposit
rating was downgraded to Baa1 with a stable outlook from A3, and
its long-term national scale rating was downgraded to Aa2.tr
from Aaa.tr, within the context of Moody's global review
of the systemic support available to banks in non-Aaa systems.
Its other ratings were unaffected.
The principal methodologies used in rating Turkish banks are "Bank Financial
Strength Ratings: Global Methodology" and "Incorporation of Joint-Default
Analysis into Moody's Bank Ratings: A Refined Methodology",
which can be found on www.moodys.com in the Rating Methodologies
sub-directory under the Research & Ratings tab. Other
methodologies and factors that may have been considered in the process
of rating the Turkish banking system can also be found in the Rating Methodologies
sub-directory on Moody's website.
T.C Ziraat Bankasi, Turkiye Halk Bankasi and Turkiye Vakiflar
Bankasi AS are headquartered in Ankara, Turkey. All the other
banks are headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey.
Akbank TAS had total assets of TRY92.7 billion (US$61.0
billion) under IFRS at the end of December 2008.
Anadolubank AS had total assets of TRY3.8 billion (US$2.5
billion) under IFRS at the end of December 2008.
Asya Katilim Bankasi AS had total assets of TRY8.1 billion (US$5.3
billion) under IFRS at the end of December 2008.
Bankpozitif Kredit ve Kalkinma Bankasi AS had total assets of TRY1.8
billion (US$1.2 billion) under IFRS at the end of December
2008.
Denizbank AS had total assets of TRY24.2 billion (US$15.9
billion) under BRSA at the end of December 2008.
Eurobank Tekfen had total assets of TRY3.6 billion (US$2.4
billion) under BRSA at the end of December 2008.
Finansbank had total assets of TRY30.1 billion (US$19.9
billion) under BRSA at the end of December 2008.
HSBC Bank AS had total assets of TRY14.6 billion (US$9.6
billion) under IFRS at the end of December 2008.
T.C. Ziraat Bankasi AS had total assets of TRY104.4
billion (US$77.6 billion) under BRSA at the end of December
2008.
Turk Ekonomi Bankasi AS had total assets of TRY17.0 billion (US$11.2
billion) under IFRS at the end of December 2008.
Turkiye Garanti Bankasi AS had total assets of TRY98.2 billion
(US$69.7 billion) under IFRS at the end of December 2008.
Turkiye Halk Bankasi AS had total assets of TRY51.2 billion (US$33.7
billion) under IFRS at the end of December 2008.
Turkiye Is Bankasi AS had total assets of TRY97.5 billion (US$63.4
billion) under IFRS at the end of December 2008.
Turkiye Sinai Kalkinma Bankasi AS had total assets of TRY6.3 billion
(US$4.2 billion) under IFRS at the end of December 2008.
Turkiye Vakiflar Bankasi AS had total assets of TRY54.6 billion
(US$35.9 billion) under BRSA at the end of December 2008.
Yapi ve Kredi Bankasi AS had total assets of TRY69.9 billion (US$46.0
billion) under IFRS at the end of December 2008.
Frankfurt
Arif Bekiroglu
Analyst
Financial Institutions Group
Moody's Deutschland GmbH
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
SUBSCRIBERS: 44 20 7772 5454
Frankfurt
Carola Schuler
Managing Director
Financial Institutions Group
Moody's Deutschland GmbH
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
SUBSCRIBERS: 44 20 7772 5454
Moody's upgrades 16 Turkish banks' foreign currency deposit ratings to Ba3
