From September to November, interest rates on targeted loans for SMEs for the purchase of primary business assets (production equipment, vehicles, special transport, etc.) may decrease by 1-1.5%, down to 16% per annum.
According to Oksana Shulha, Director of the Small and Medium Business Department at GLOBUS BANK, this is a direct result of the reduction in the key interest rate to 13%, allowing commercial banks to gradually improve loan conditions for borrowers.
According to the expert, in the first half of the year, the main volume of targeted loans for small and medium-sized businesses was issued to enterprises in the manufacturing, industrial, and construction sectors (up to 60% of the total number of targeted loans for SMEs), as well as to trading enterprises and service companies (15% each), with a gradual increase in financing for companies servicing buildings and territories. The average loan amount is 1.2 million UAH, with a term ranging from 1 to 5 years.
As the expert noted, targeted loans have their advantages: the financed item serves as collateral for the loan, which does not require additional resources from the borrower to secure the loan.
"Many targeted loans are supported by the state (for example, state programs '5-7-9', 'Affordable Financial Leasing 5-7-9', 'Affordable Factoring'), local administrations, and state funds (programs for HOAs and Housing Cooperatives 'EnergoDim' and 'GreenDIM' from the Energy Efficiency Fund), which allows borrowers to receive interest rate compensation, part of the loan, as well as reimbursement for part of the cost of equipment," summarized Oksana Shulha.
