OREANDA-NEWS. On June 13, 2009 Russian Agricultural Bank celebrates 9 years since its establishment. Within these nine years RAB has extended loans to the total amount of over RUR 1,000 billion to agribusiness and rural population of the Russian Federation. RAB’s authorized capital increased to RUR 106.2 billion in 2009 from RUR 375 million in 2000. Number of the Bank’s clients, both corporate and retail, reached 1.2 million, reported the press-centre of RAB.

RAB’s branch network, which included 24 regional branches and 15 additional offices in 2000, today is the second largest branch network in Russia. It includes 78 regional branches and about 1,500 additional offices.

As of January 2009, RAB’s share in the total volumes of agribusiness lending in the Russian Federation reached 58%. From January to June 2009 the Bank’s loan portfolio increased almost by RUR 80 billion and reached RUR 546 billion. Since the beginning of 2009, RAB extended 74 thousand loans to the total amount of some RUR 176 billion.

In January-May 2009, 37 thousand loans for the total amount of RUR 6.3 billion were extended for the development of personal household plots. Russian Agricultural Bank has started extending loans to personal household plots owners since 2006. Over 450 thousand owners of personal household plots have already received such loans, and the total volume of these loans reached RUR 65 billion. Besides, since the start of 2009, RAB has extended loans to farmers totaling some RUR 6 billion.

In 2008, RAB started to issue and to serve plastic cards of its own payment system. Today, the number of the Bank’s payment cards extended to clients exceeded 160 thousand.

At present, Russian Agricultural Bank is developing a long-term development plan focused on higher competitiveness of agribusiness of the Russian Federation. Last years’ experience has proved high efficiency of investments in agribusiness, and RAB will further expand credit and financial support of rural areas.