OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch Ratings has today changed the Outlooks of Russia-based MDM Bank's and its ultimate parent MDM Holding GmbH's Issuer Default ratings ("IDR") and National Long-term ratings to Positive from Stable. The agency has also affirmed the ratings of issuers.

MDM Bank's strategy to push more comprehensively into the middle market retail and SME segments, including in the Russian regions, may push up costs and dampen performance indicators in the near term, but is important in order to build a more diversified platform for future, sustainable revenue and earnings generation.

According to the agency, MDM Bank has the management and risk management know-how to deliver on its strategy and this could benefit its ratings over the medium term.