Bank Ratings

State-owned lender has improved asset quality, been profitable for eight consecutive quarters

Lenders that had "substantial" unrealized securities losses and uninsured deposits may be hurt more as customers look for safer alternatives to park their funds

The banking sector is becoming more exposed to cyber crime after Covid-19 pandemic accelerated digitalisation and remote working, S & P Global Ratings said on Tuesday.Cyber attacks can harm credit ratings mainly through reputational damage and potential monetary losses, it said in a report titled 'Cyber Risk In A New Era: The Effect On Bank Ratings.'"Cyber attacks have had only a limited effect on bank ratings to date but can trigger more rating actions in the future as cyber incidents become more frequent and complex," said Credit Analyst Irina Velieva.Banks and other financial institutions are attractive targets for cyber criminals because they possess valuable personal data and play a critical role in servicing particular financial or economic needs and segments.Institutions with weak risk governance are less prepared for, and therefore more vulnerable to cyber attacks, said S & P in the report."Although it is crucial to learn from previous attacks and strengthen cyber-risk

The brokerage shifts focus to small lenders with niche operations and good asset quality