OREANDA-NEWS. October 30, 2007. Small and medium-sized enterprises are into business that is one of the most promising in terms of Ukrainian economy. At the same time the share of SME in Ukrainian GDP makes up as little as 10-11%, while in European countries this figure tops 50%, reported the press-centre of UkrSibbank.

Taking Ukrainian tendencies of European integration and economy growth potential into account, market potential is now in good position for smooth growth.

“JSCIB “UkrSibbank” defined services to entrepreneurs as its key mission as long as two years ago. Now the number of such clients served by our bank exceeds 165 000, 77% of which being private entrepreneurs, 19% - small and 4% - medium-sized enterprises. The Bank cooperates with enterprises to represent all spheres of economy: trade, services, construction, agricultural sector, transportation companies, etc”, - said Taras Kyrychenko, Deputy Chairman of the Board of JSCIB “UkrSibbank”.

The Bank’s monthly acquisition figure makes up about 4000 to 5000 of SME clients to be rendered $150 mln of loans, long-term credit resources, opportunities to develop business, update production machinery and expand scope of activity. Besides, the Bank strives to support and encourage its clients. Thus, Oleksandr Kuzmin, the 50-thousand client to be rendered a loan was awarded by ‘UkrSibbank’s” management with a laptop. The happy entrepreneur is into real estate business and has been cooperating with “UkrSibbank” since 2005.

“For us to serve our clients means, above all, to find an individual approach to each of them, be it a minor private entrepreneur or a large industrial company, - said Vladlen Dyedkov, Head of SME Department, JSCIB “UkrSibbank”. – “UkrSibbank’s” employees deliver complex services to entrepreneurs at 1000 retail outlets nationwide. It means that the principle of the so called “single window” is working at the bank. Each client is served by a financial adviser to deal with all kinds of banking services – both for business purposes, e.g. this may be settlement account, and for personal needs of the client, e.g. mortgage loan”.

“UkrSibbank’s” loan portfolio makes up about $2bn. Since the beginning of the year it has grown by $733mln. Such excellent performance was driven by systematic improvement of lending conditions and customer care, as well as by the new, high-demand products and programs introduced to the market, such as cross-lending in UAH at 11.5%, General Agreement and business development loans. Decrease of loan interest rates is one of the Bank’s numerous innovations. Currently the rates for SME with “UkrSibbank” make up a minimum of 9.49% in CHF, 12,9% in USD and 14,0% in UAH.

Let us point out that the year 2007 was proclaimed “UkrSibbank’s” year of SME. SME clients are legal entities with annual receipts of up to $40mln., as well as economic entities and entrepreneurs.