Ratings of BankPozitif was Upgraded To "Investment Grade"

Fitch Ratings has upgraded Bankpozitif Kredi ve Kalkınma Bankası A.Ş. (BankPozitif) ratings at Long-term (LT) foreign currency Issuer Default rating (IDR) 'BBB-', Short-term (ST) foreign currency IDR 'F3'. These levels are accepted as 'Investment Grade'. These are the highest ratings possible among the banks in Turkey.

Ratings of BankPozitif's senior unsecured bonds issues in international markets were upgraded to BBB- which means that they will be traded as 'Investment Grade' instruments.

Fitch Ratings has also affirmed already 'Investment Grade' rating at LT local currency IDR 'BBB-'.

The Outlooks for all ratings are Stable.

Hasan Akçakayalıoğlu, Chairman and CEO of BankPozitif stated: "This rating upgrade is an important progress. In the past there has not been any bank in Turkish banking system to reach these levels in international markets. By the help of these rating levels, we will be able to access to international funding sources with longer maturities and better terms. We are going to pass these sources through to the real sector as credits. It is an advantage and good news not only for our bank but also for the Turkish banking sector and the economy as a whole. We will maintain this advantage and strive to take it to even higher levels."