In Q1 2009, Center-Invest Bank made 1135 loans to SMEs totalling 3.2 billion rubles. As such, in terms of the number of loans issued, it outperformed the other banks participating in the Rostov region SME Development Programme.

Center-Invest Bank is responsible for 41.5% of the number of loans made, and 30.2% of their combined value.

Center-Invest is one of the top ten best partners for SMEs. According to RosBusinessConsulting, among all Russian banks, based on performance in 2008, Center-Invest ranked 7th in terms of the number of loans to entrepreneurs, and 9th in terms of the total volume of SME lending.

Center-Invest Bank has been running programmes to support SMEs in southern Russia for eleven years. Already, 36,500 SMEs and self-employed individuals bank with Center-Invest.

With Center-Invest Bank's support, a legal advice hotline for SMEs has been running for over three years. So far, it has provided businesses in the Rostov region with more than 20,000 free consulations (www.hotline.centrinvest.ru).