S&P assigned ForteBank (Kazakhstan) national scale rating at "kzBB"

/Standard & Poor's, Moscow, December 27, 12, Standard & Poor's English translation, KASE headline/ - Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said today that it had assigned its 'kzBB' Kazakhstan national scale rating to ForteBank JSC. The rating reflects the 'bb-' anchor for banks operating in Kazakhstan, our view of the bank's weaker business and risk positions than the system average, while capital and earnings, funding, and liquidity are neutral rating factors. Under our bank criteria, we use our Banking Industry Country Risk Assessment economic risk and industry risk scores to determine a bank's anchor, the starting point in assigning an issuer credit rating. Our anchor for a commercial bank operating only in Kazakhstan is 'bb-'. Kazakhstan's economic risk score is 8' and the industry risk score is '7'. Primary Credit Analyst: Maria Malyukova, Moscow, (7) 495-783-4135; maria_malyukova@standardandpoors.com Secondary contact, Natalia Yalovskaya, Moscow, (7) 495-783-4097; natalia_yalovskaya@standardandpoors.com [2012-12-27]