**ForteBank was awarded the title of the Best Bank in Kazakhstan by Global Finance for the fifth consecutive year**

Global Finance magazine announced its 29th annual awards for the Best Banks. The winners have been
chosen in more than 150 countries worldwide based on such objective criteria as growth in assets,
profitability, geographic reach, strategic relationships, new business development and innovation in
products. Subjective criteria were also considered, including the opinions of the equity analysts, credit
rating analysts, banking consultants and other experts involved in the industry.

The title of the Best Bank in Kazakhstan was awarded to Forte for the fifth consecutive year. While
commenting on the award, Mr. Reinis Rubenis, the Chairman of ForteBank Management Board, noted:
“We are thankful to Global Finance for acknowledgement of our work and such high appreciation. Being
awarded for the fifth consecutive year proves professionalism of the Bank’s team and endorses its stable
position and effective strategy. Due to these factors, ForteBank is a stable and reliable business partner on
the financial market of Kazakhstan”.

ForteBank, having 20 branches and about 100 outlets, is one of the most stable, solvent and well-capitalized
banks in the country. In 2018-2022, ForteBank has been recognized for multiple times as the Best Bank in
Kazakhstan according to Global Finance and Asiamoney, as well as awarded the Bank of the Year in
Kazakhstan by The Banker. Moreover, Euromoney magazine has also named Forte the Best Bank in
Kazakhstan in 2021.

Global Finance, founded in 1987, has a circulation in 193 countries worldwide. Global Finance’s audience
includes senior corporate and financial officers responsible for making investments and strategic decisions
at multinational companies and financial institutions. Its website – GFMag.com – offers analysis and
articles that are the legacy of 35 years of experience in international financial markets. The publication is
headquartered in New York. Global Finance annually selects the top performers among the banks and other
financial services providers. These awards have become a trusted standard of excellence for the global
financial community.

Contacts
Press office
**tel.:+7 777 731 99 33**

ForteBank is recognized as the Best Bank in Kazakhstan according to Global Finance

The rating confirmation reflects Moody’s assessment that the operating environment and the credit profile of ForteBank JSC will remain resilient to the increased risks, as well as stability of the Bank’s capitalization, profitability and liquidity.

The stable outlook on long-term rating reflects Moody’s expectation that, capitalisation, profitability and liquidity will together balance the risks of weakening asset quality amid higher inflation and tighter financing conditions on the financial markets.

ForteBank is among the top five largest banks in Kazakhstan and one of the most stable, solvent and well-capitalized banks in the country. The Bank has 20 branches and about 100 outlets. The Bank has been awarded multiple times by the flagship international publications. For instance, over the last 12 months, ForteBank has been recognized as the Best Bank in Kazakhstan by Euromoney, Asiamoney and Global Finance. 

**Mass media contact: Erkin Uderbay, +7 777 731 99 33**

Moody’s rating agency confirms ForteBank JSC rating at Ba2, with a stable outlook

ForteBank JSC (the Management Board is located at: 8/1, Dostyk str., Nur-Sultan city, Z05P1P0/010017, Republic of Kazakhstan) (hereinafter the "Bank") held the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on April 1st, 2022 where the membership of the Board of Directors of the Bank was determined in the amount of six people, the Board of Directors was re-elected with a term of office that expires at the time of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of the Bank in 2025.

Thus, currently the Board of Directors of the Bank is as follows: 

- four representatives of the shareholder’s interests: Anuar Utemuratov, Guram Andronikashvili, Marlen Mirzabekov, Timur Issatayev; 
- two Independent Directors: Yeldar Abdrazakov, Hubert Pandza.

On the membership of the Board of Directors of ForteBank JSC

Nur-Sultan, January 12th, 2022

**ForteBank announces appointment of a new Chairperson of the Management Board**

The Board of Directors of ForteBank has approved the nomination of the Chairperson of the Management Board; Mr. Reinis Rubenis will accept this post. Ms. Sholpan Nurumber, who has been holding an interim office of the Chairperson of the Management Board since 01.08.2021, shall continue in the capacity of the Deputy Chairperson of the Management Board and a member of the Management Board.

Mr. Reinis Rubenis has been working on financial markets of Europe for the past 25 years and is known as an experienced and efficient manager propelling the companies to the top. For the past 14 years, Mr. Rubenis has worked for the largest bank of Latvia, Swedbank, 5 of these years - in the capacity of the Chairperson of the Management Board. Mr. Rubenis has also been a member of the Board of Directors of Nasdaq Latvia and a member of the Board of Directors of the Latvian Central Depository. Under the management of Mr. Rubenis, the team of Swedbank became the leader of Latvian market in terms of assets and the number of customers, successfully integrated digital financial services and managed to create the strongest HR brand in the country.

The new CEO will focus on the primary strategic directions – improvement of the processes efficiency and acceleration of the delivery of new services to the market. The crucial groundwork for the upcoming changes lies in evolution of the customer experience management and development of a corporate culture of a European institute, as well as formation of partner programs with local and global companies.

While commenting on the appointment of Mr. Rubenis, the principal shareholder of ForteBank Mr. Bulat Utemuratov noted:

“Mr. Rubenis possesses an impressive professional expertise and experience of building up the flagship financial institutions in highly competitive markets. Throughout his career of many years, Mr. Rubenis has proved that his strength lies in his ability to form effective interaction with the market participants, regulators and partners. His expertise and vigor will help the Bank to create the best consumer experience for its customers and will lead the entire team to success.”

Mr. Reinis Rubenis also expressed his positive attitude to this new chapter of his career:

“I am excited to become a part of Forte and grateful to the shareholders for the utmost trust on their part. For my part, I would like to say with confidence that I will do everything to solidify the success of the bank and well-being of every customer. From today onward, we will build up Forte as a European bank trusted and loved by customers.”

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Contacts
Press office
Tel.: +7 (7172) 59 99 99 (вн. 10868, 10975) 



ForteBank announces appointment of a new Chairperson of the Management Board

On December 15, 2021, Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) announced its decision to upgrade the long-term deposit rating of ForteBank JSC to Ba2 from Ba3, the  outlook is “Stable”. Previous upgrade of the Bank’s rating by Moody’s took place in December 2020. Back then, the agency upgraded the long-term deposit rating of ForteBank to Ba3 from B1, the outlook was “Stable”.

This is not the first positive ratings action for ForteBank JSC in 2021. In September 2021, S&P Global Ratings international rating agency revised ForteBank’s ratings outlook to “Positive” from “Stable” , raised national scale rating from “kzBBB” to “kzBBB+” and affirmed  the long-term and short-term ratings at “B+/B”. Fitch Ratings agency, in its turn, upgraded the Bank’s long-term rating to “B+” from “B” and revised the outlook from “Stable” to “Positive”. 

**According to Moody’s analysts**, this rating action recognizes substantially decreased uncertainties over the Bank's asset risk, following the sharp contraction in problem loans since the beginning of this year. The rating action also recognizes improvement in the Bank's core profitability and Forte's maturing business profile.

**Note:**
ForteBank ranks among the top five largest banks of Kazakhstan and is one of the most stable, liquid and well-capitalized banks in the country. The Bank has 20 branches and about 100 outlets. The Bank was awarded by the leading international periodicals for multiple times. Thus, during the last 12 months, ForteBank has been recognized as the best bank in Kazakhstan according to Euromoney, Asiamoney and Global Finance.


Contacts

Investor Relations
Tel. +7 (7172) 58 75 75 (ext. 10249)
E-mail: IR@fortebank.com

Press Office
Tel.: +7 (7172) 59 99 99 (ext. 10868, 10975) 


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