KULOB, June 16, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- As of June 1, 2009, population’s deposits in banks in Khatlon’s Kulob region have amounted to 26,062,603 somoni, which is 10,364,642 somoni more than of the same date of 2008, Abdukarim Nematov, the head of the branch of National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT), said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

“Despite the ongoing financial crisis and existing concern about instability of activities of banks, local population are continuing to trust financial institutions,” Nematov said.

According to him, people prefer to keep their savings in Amonatbonk (Tajikistan’s savings bank) and Agroinvestbonk (one of Tajikistan’s largest commercial bank).  In the branches of Amonatbonk and Agroinvestbonk in the region, population’s deposits increased by 3.5 million and 2.97 million somoni respectively in the year to June 1, 2009.