The final of the XI Federal Competition Best Banking Programme for SMEs — 2026 took place at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation. The winner of the competition was Center-invest Bank.

At the competition, Center-invest Bank presented a customer support programme, including an Automated Simplified Taxation System service, a turnkey cash management solution, special financial terms for settlement and cash services, acquiring, lending, and AI training programmes.

The competition is aimed at supporting and developing effective banking solutions for SMEs. In 2026, 31 federal and regional banks participated in the competition, presenting 90 programmes and services for SMEs.

The event was attended by Sergey Katyrin, the President of the CCI RF, Elena Dybova, the Vice President of the CCI RF, Vladimir Gamza, the Chairman of the Council for Financial Markets and Investments of the CCI RF, and Mikhail Mamuta, the Head of the Consumer Protection and Financial Inclusion Service at the Bank of Russia.

The President of the CCI RF, Sergey Katyrin, noted that, given the high borrowing costs for SMEs, the quality of banking programmes and the attitude of banks towards entrepreneurs are particularly important. According to him, entrepreneurs want to see banks as development partners, rather than merely lenders.

"We operate on transparent terms, without hidden fees or inflated rates. For Center-invest Bank, integrity is the key asset, the core moral principle, and the main risk management tool. Integrity helps us find creative solutions, stimulates the development of new resources and markets, as well as the judicious application of AI technologies. Our victory confirms that such an approach benefits everyone: the clients, the Bank, and the country’s economy, which gains a sustainable, efficient business," comments Yury Bogdanov, the Chairman of the Board at Center-invest Bank.

In 2026, the Analytical Credit Rating Agency (ACRA) upgraded the credit rating of Center-invest Bank to A+(RU) with a stable outlook, which reflects Center-invest Bank’s increased reliability, its stable financial position, as well as its commitment to ESG principles.