BTA Bank Total Assets in 2007 Increased by 47.7%, Net Income Was up 65.6%.

ALMATY, Kazakhstan--(Business Wire)--
JSC "BTA Bank" reported asset growth for the twelve month ended
December 31, 2007 to US$25.5 billion (audited IFRS) and significantly
strengthened its positions in the banking sector of Kazakhstan,
increasing its market share in assets from 22.8% to 25.5%, in capital
- from 22.1% to 32.2%.

Financial Highlights

-- Total Assets increased by 47.7% to KZT 3,065 billion (US$25.5
billion).

-- Net loans to customers increased by 77.1% to KZT 2,380 billion
(US$19.8 billion), market share of the Bank during the year
increased from 23.7% to 27.4%.

-- Amounts due to customers increased by 23.5% to KZT 652 billion
(US$5.4 billion).

-- Shareholder's Equity increased by 132.3% to KZT 452 billion
(US$3.7 billion), the Bank maintained its position as the most
capitalized bank in Kazakhstan.

-- During 2007, the number of retail units increased to 289, the
Bank established a network of 160 24-hours self-service
terminals, the largest in Kazakhstan.

-- Net income increased by 65.6% to KZT 64.7 billion (US$538
million).

-- Capital adequacy ratio according to the BIS methodology (Tier
1 Adequacy Ratio) increased by 4.8% to 16.9% compared to 2006.

-- Cost to Income ratio slightly increased to 30.1% over 28.7%
last year but remains one of the best in Kazakhstan.

"JSC "BTA Bank" enters 2008 in a distinctly improved leading
position in banking sector of Kazakhstan. The growth of shareholder's
equity in 2007 by US$1.5 billion in combination with the long-term
structure of liabilities decreases the Bank's vulnerability to the
international liquidity crisis," said the Chairman of Management Board
Roman Solodchenko, commenting the results of the Bank. "On 13 March,
2008 the Bank has paid US$530.9 million, in April-December, 2008 the
Bank is still to repay only US$667 million of its international loans,
or 2.6% of assets, while the shift from corporate to SME and retail on
the basis of previously created retail units and ATMs will allow us to
increase transaction volumes in 2008 even if the negative trends at
the financial markets persist."

Net Income of the Bank was recorded as KZT 64.7 billion, exceeding
last year's indicator by 65.6%. The most important profitability
driver was the increase of net interest margin due to higher loan
portfolio returns and the increased share of loans in assets.

Net interest income (before impairment charge) in 2007 increased
by 2.8 times and amounted KZT 144.2 billion, and was influenced by the
increased share in assets from 64.7% to 77.7%, while the growth of
average cost of the Bank's liabilities in 2007 by 0.6% to 8.2% was
compensated by the rise of return of loan portfolio by 1.3% to 14.7%.

Net non interest expenses during 2007 almost doubled to KZT 61.6
billion and was influenced by the increase of business scales of the
Bank and accompanying growth of salaries and other employee benefits.
During 2007 the number of employees increased by 36.6% to 7,184; the
number of retail units of the bank increased to 289. Cost to income
ratio increased insignificantly to 30.1% over 28.7% last year and
remains one of the best in Kazakhstan.

Return on average equity (RoAE) and return on average assets
(RoAA) in 2007 were 22.4% and 2.4% respectively compared to 35.8% and
3.0% in 2006.

Total assets of the Bank increased by 47.7% and as of January 1
2008 amounted to KZT 3,065 billion (US$25.5 billion), due to high
growth rates in the Assets of the Bank in the banking sector of
Kazakhstan, which increased by 22.8% to 25.5%.

Loan portfolio of the Bank (less allowance for impairment) in 2007
increased by 77.1% and amounted to KZT 2,380 billion. The change in
structure of assets operations of the Bank allowed exceeding growth
rates of the loan portfolio towards reducing the share of operations
in financial markets, the increase in the resources base in 2007 was
used to finance customers. Allowances for impairment equaled 5.4% of
the loan portfolio (5.0% in 2006).

Amounts due to customers of the Bank in 2007 increased by 23.5% to
KZT 652 billion, the share of JSC "BTA Bank" in customers' deposits in
Kazakhstan equaled 23.7% (corporate deposits - 24.9%, retail - 19.5%).

Shareholder's Equity increased by 2.3 times and amounted to KZT
452 billion. The significant growth of shareholder's equity was
provided by capital injection from shareholders in 2007.

Tier I Capital adequacy ratio and Total Capital Adequacy Ratio
according to BIS methodology were up to 16.9% and 17.6% compared to
12.1% and 17.5% in 2006.

Bank at a glance

BTA Bank is one of the largest banks in Kazakhstan and a leader in
CIS expansion. BTA Bank provides banking services to more than 1.2
million retail and 95.6 thousand corporate customers. Its strategic
partner banks cover Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia,
Kyrgyzstan and Turkey.

JSC "BTA Bank" will be hosting a teleconference call for analysts
and investors tomorrow, April 17th at 2 pm London time (9 am New York/
5 pm Moscow/ 7 pm Almaty) with its senior management to announce BTA's
audited consolidated results for the year ended 31 December 2007 and
to reply to questions of investors and analysts.

The conference call can be accessed by dialing: + 44 (0) 20 7138
0821

Access code is: 8427764

Participants should register for the call at least ten minutes
before the start of the presentation.

The call and presentation will be also broadcast live over
Internet:

http://www.thomson-webcast.net/de/dispatching/?event_id=6771ecbd6d
cd06a8829b4a9e7d141aac&portal_id=70718af7715c8da678375d4e1efa04f7

(Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into
your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one
exists.)

-0-
*T
Table. Key financial indicators of Bank's performance in 2007:

KZT bn USD mln
2007 2006 2005 2007 2006 2005
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets 3 064.6 2 075.1 997.8 25 475 16 340 7447
Loans to customers 2 379.8 1 343.4 680.4 19 782 10 578 5078
Total liabilities 2 612.6 1 880.5 910.7 21 717 14 807 6797
Amounts due to
customers 652.5 528.2 306.7 5 424 4 159 2289
Total equity 452.0 194.6 87.1 3 758 1 532 650
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating income 204.0 107.9 50.5 1 695 850 377
Net interest income
before impairment 144.2 51.5 32.6 1198 405 243
(Impairment charge) -67.8 -33.2 -15.4 -564 -261 -115
Net interest income 76.4 18.3 17.2 635 144 128
Net Fees and
commissions 27.4 24.5 12.5 228 193 93
Net non interest
income 32.4 32.0 5.5 269 252 41
Operating expense -61.6 -31.1 -18.9 -512 -245 -141
Income before income
tax expense 74.5 43.6 16.3 620 344 122
Income tax expense -9.8 -4.6 -1.6 -82 -36 -12
Net income after
income tax 64.7 39.1 14.7 538 308 110
Basic EPS (currency
units per share) 8 143 8 640 5 238 67.7 68.0 39.1
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratios
RoAE 22.4 35.8 26.1
RoAA 2.4 3.0 1.93
Cost to income ratio 30.1 28.7 37.0
T1 BIS ratio 16.93 12.12 11.06
Total BIS Ratio 17.57 17.49 16.27
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Notes: all indicators are translated into USD at the official NBK
exchange rates: December 31, 2007 - 120.3 KZT/USD, December 31, 2006
- 127.0 KZT/USD, December 31, 2005 - 133.98 KZT/USD
*T

JSC "BTA Bank"
George Iosifian
Deputy Chaiman, Head of International Department
iosifian@bta.kz
Mr. Sadyr Shaguzhayev, +7(727)2500671
Director, Loan&Capital Markets and Investor Relations
shaguzhayev@bta.kz
Mr. Damir Seisebayev, +7(727)3124671
Investor Relations
seisebayev@bta.kz
Ms. Marina Kahiani, +7(727)2667241
Investor Relations
kahiani@bta.kz

Copyright Business Wire 2008