Center-invest Bank’s loan portfolio has increased by RUB2.55bn since the start of 2016. For the first time, our loan portfolio has exceeded RUB80bn. The stable growth in lending can be attributed to record low interest rates for loans from Center-invest Bank, and our long-term sustainable development strategy, comprehensive support for entrepreneurs, and advice for customers.
Center-invest Bank ranks near the top of Russian and international ratings for demand for banking services and amount of lending.
We were recognised as Russia’s best regional bank for 2015 and one of the country’s top three retail banks (Sravni.ru comparison site). The Expert RA rating agency ranked Center-invest Bank in 6th place for the size of its portfolio of loans for sole traders and small businesses, 13th place for volume of SME lending in 2015, and 16th place for size of SME loan portfolio. The Bank of Russia included Center-invest Bank in its list of “significant banks in the payment services market”. Center-invest Bank was in 17th place for return on capital in The Banker’s “Top 100 Russian Banks” ranking.
Center-invest Bank is the only bank in southern Russia to have had a Moody’s international rating since 2006. Our current rating is B1, outlook stable.
Our reputation as a highly reliable and efficient bank confirms that we are successfully applying a transformational banking business model, based on “adopting creative and responsible solutions to today’s challenges in the interests of future generations”.
Center-invest Bank continues to provide finance on preferential terms under its Start-Up, Youth Business Russia, and Business Loans for Women programmes. New entrepreneurs have already received 441 loans totalling RUB554m, and businesswomen have received 271 loans totalling RUB376m.
At the end of April we launched a new mortgage programme with government support. Customers can now access mortgages with an interest rate of 10%, which is a very attractive rate for the Russian market.