Banker’s 2024 lending strategy for small and medium-sized businesses.

This year, new loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may make up to 70% of the total volume of loans issued by banks, predicts Globus Bank top manager Oksana Shulga.

She believes that the share of state loans of the state programs Affordable Factoring 5-7-9, and Affordable Financial Leasing 5-7-9 will be about 50%. Targeted joint programs between banks and manufacturers will account for more than 45% of SME loans. However, the banker predicts the 5-7-9 lending program will be reduced.

“The program’s implementation will become more targeted with a vector on entrepreneurs in the economy sectors that have not yet recovered following the large-scale invasion and work in regions with high military risks,” Shulga predicted.

She added that reducing the NBU discount rate allows commercial banks to develop their own credit programs for conducting business activities. Moreover, with the further reduction of the discount rate to between 12% and 14%, interest rates on loans for SMEs may decrease by 2%-3% to 15%-17% per annum, increasing the popularity of such loans.