DUSHANBE, April 15, 2011, Asia-Plus -- Tajikistan’s savings bank, Amonatbonk, is taking measures to increase the number of its depositors.

The Amonatbonk chairperson, Ms. Gulnora Hasanova, told reporters yesterday that the number of depositors is increasing from year to year.  “We now intend to attract residents of remote areas of the country,” sad she, “To attract new clients, we try to provide privileges and other advantages to our customers.”

According to Hasanova, Amonatbonk’s aggregate capital rose 7.4 percent in the year to April 1, 2011, reaching 126.1 million somoni (equivalent to 28.2 million U.S. dollars).

Over the first three months of this year, Amonatbonk has reportedly provided 41.5 million somoni in loans to more than 4,000 customers.  As of April 1, 2011, the bank’s loan portfolio amounted to 230.4 million somoni.

Amonatbonk is the only state-owned bank.  It is one of the oldest in Tajikistan (established in 1925) and one of the largest based upon various criteria - including the number of branches and the number of served clients.  The institution is unique in its orientation towards implementing social, pension and other state programs.  Amonatbonk has 5 regional centers, 69 branches and nearly 500 agencies. This gives the institution a presence in the most remote mountainous parts of the country.