S&P Global Ratings on July 20 revised the outlook onArab Bank Group unitArab Tunisian Bank tonegative from stable, while affirming the bank's B+/B long- and short-term counterpartycredit ratings.

The outlook revision reflects S&P's view that the bank'sexposure to risks stemming from the Tunisian operating environment hasincreased. The agency said Tunisia faces significant short- and medium-termeconomic challenges owing to slow growth, institutional limitations as a resultof the country's weak banking system, a strained labor market and a weakinvestment code.

S&P Global Ratings and S&P Global MarketIntelligence are owned by S&P Global Inc.