OREANDA-NEWS. April 25, 2013. At the end of 2012, the small and micro business loan portfolio reached RUR 12 443 million (a 56% increase over 2011).

The number of new loans in 2012 increased by 54% to reach about 3 900. As of December 31, 2012, the total number of loans was 5 400.

The highest shares of the loan portfolio in the small and micro business segment included trade companies (56%), manufacturing companies (14%) and real estate enterprises (14%).

In terms of growth rate, Raiffeisenbank’s lending to the small and micro business segment significantly exceeds market averages. About 17% of overall loans in the market are made to the small and micro business segment on average, while the figure is 56% for Raiffeisenbank.

The micro segment has shown even more significant growth of 81%, which is connected with improved processes for Express unsecured lending and new services (overdraft and a programme of previously approved loans for regular borrowers to obtain financing faster).

"High increments in our small and micro business loan portfolio are connected mainly with the improved product line for this customer segment. The small business lending market, according to our estimates, will grow rapidly — by about 20-22% in 2013, because more and more banks treat this segment as a priority", said Andrey Stepanenko, Deputy Chairman, Head of the Retail Private Individuals and Small Enterprises Directorate of  Raiffeisenbank.

Average annual balances on accounts and fixed-term deposits in the small and micro business segment increased by 16% over the previous year to reach RUR 12 354 million by December 31, 2012. More than 36,000 active customers contributed to the liability base.