Arman Dunaev elected as chairman of Board of Directors of BTA Bank (Kazakhstan), bank receives USD1.7 bn. from Fund of national wellbeing Samruk-Kazyna

/KASE, February 4, 09/ - BTA Bank (Almaty), securities of which are listed on Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE), provided KASE with the press-release of the following content: Quotation beginning February 3, 2009 at a meeting of the Board of Directors Arman Dunaev was elected a Chairman of the Board of Directors of BTA Bank. Besides, Saduakas Mameshtegi, former head of Board of Directors of Astana-Finance, and Rakhimov Seytkali, representative of Fund of national wellbeing Samruk-Kazyna became members of the BTA Bank Board. In addition a decision was made to hold the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders of BTA Bank on March 6, 2009. On the same day A. Dunaev confirmed that on February 2, KZT212 bn. (USD1.7 bn.) arrived to a special current account in the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan from Fund of national wellbeing Samruk-Kazyna. In addition, funds began to arrive to settlement accounts of state companies. Thus, beginning February 3, all payments are made in the current mode according to priority. Arman Dunaev also emphasized that state participation in the BTA Bank capital predetermines growth of trust of depositors and creditors. "I assure clients and partners of BTA Bank that negative information on operation of the bank is disseminated by unauthorized sources and does not reflect the reality. In the next few days the bank will make its best efforts to settle the situation regarding servicing of clients and carrying out of payments. We believe that BTA Bank, as a largest fundamental bank in Kazakhstan, will participate in the state programs. In particular, we expect very soon, BTA Bank to continue participate in the program of crediting of small and middle size business in the volume of KZT10 bn." As for subsidiary banks and banks-partners of BTA Bank, according to chairman of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Regulation and Supervision of Financial Market and Financial Organizations Elena Bahmutova, "BTA Bank with its subsidiaries and paternalized organizations will continue operate in the normal mode, all current shareholders retained their shareholding and will continue participate in the management of the bank within their stakes. Second, subsidiaries and paternalized companies are legal entities operating in accordance with regulating regimes of the states where they function, and will continue working in the normal mode". In his turn, Minister of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bolat Zhamishev assured "the state will make all possible efforts so that the bank operate successfully, and in future will act so that the bank becomes private again". Contact Media: Adyl Dosymov, Press Secretary of BTA Bank" 8 (727) 266 47 97, 8 707 3457619 E-mail: dosymov@bta.kz Quotation end [2009-02-04]