On June 8, 2026, the international agency Fitch Ratings revised the outlook on the long-term ratings of seven state-owned banks in Uzbekistan, including Microcreditbank, from "stable" to "positive." The credit rating itself was affirmed at "BB."
What happened
The change in assessments was reported by Spot.uz. The outlook revision was a direct consequence of the improvement in Uzbekistan's sovereign outlook, which Fitch announced on June 3, 2026. In the agency's methodology, this means the bank's assessment relies on the probability of state support.
Microcreditbank's rating trajectory clearly shows its dependence on the state. In July 2025, Fitch upgraded the bank's rating from "BB-" to "BB," but simultaneously downgraded its Viability Rating to a weak "ccc+". This indicator reflects the internal quality of assets without taking external state injections into account.
Country and market
Uzbekistan. For the local state sector, a synchronous change in outlooks is standard practice. The ratings of state-owned banks are strictly tied to the sovereign rating, as the state acts as their main guarantor to external creditors.
Why it matters
An improved outlook is an indicator of analysts' expectations for the next 12–24 months. If Uzbekistan's sovereign rating increases, the assessments of state banks may follow suit.
For the market, this means a potential reduction in the cost of external funding for the entire state banking sector, not just for a single player.
What's next
According to Fitch, an actual upgrade of Microcreditbank's rating is possible under two conditions: maintaining sufficient capital support from the state on a sustained basis and resolving accumulated asset quality issues. Investors will be watching how the bank manages its problem portfolio, rather than just the existence of state guarantees.