Today, many banks again begin lending to small and medium business (SMB). However, rates still remain high, conditions are too stringent. Describe the current situation in the field of SME lending and give their predictions portal Bank.ru asked the Head of Research and Methodology credit operations of the Department of Communication-bank lending Helena Semerikova. What is happening now, in general, the market for lending to small and medium business (SMB)? Currently, banks have a free and accessible resources to provide a comfortable business environment to SMEs. Outlier in this regard are banks with state participation in the capital, because it is no secret is an active policy of the Russian Government on this issue. Through Vnesheconombank and its subsidiaries, in particular, Svyaz-Bank ", the segment gets full support to SMEs, including in the form of available credit. Crisis of 2008-2009 exposed the weaknesses of this segment of business and forced banks to reconsider its lending policy towards it. Most banks have refused to skorringovyh credit schemes of this category of borrowers. The banks tend to find optimal balance between the interests of the client's own risk. On average, rates are now on the market? Will they be reduced? If so, how? To date, variation in rates is very significant, ranging from 13.5 to 25% annually according to sources involved monetary resources used by the bank, and the level of risk in the transaction. Given that the SME segment is a zone of high risk, most banks set the higher cost of credit resources for SMEs than for large corporate clients. However, the market in general there is a steady trend of lowering interest rates. So the weighted average interest rate on the loan portfolio of SMEs in Svyaz-Bank "for the first half of 2010. decreased from 16,5 to 13,5 percent per annum. Predict further rate cuts in the second half of 2010 is not possible, is more likely to occur the alignment and even a slight increase. Therefore, currently the most favorable for the attraction of credit resources to SMEs. How do you assess the prospects for this market? SME segment is a litmus test of the economy of the state, so his recovery - one of the priorities of the Government of the Russian Federation, and banks, in turn, serve as a source of financial support and stability in this direction. Customer is interested in a safe bank and the bank is interested in stable clients - this formula makes it possible to look ahead with optimism. Is there anything in the field of SME lending banks - the leaders? During the crisis of 2008 2009g.g. Many banks have curtailed their lending programs SMEs. At the moment we can say that the leaders in the field of SME lending are banks with state participation in the capital or its financial support, because they are more understandable and attractive to customers in terms of: reliability, availability of resources, cost of credit, advanced branch network, offers universal banking products that can meet different customer needs. In addition, higher credit risks of SMEs by most commercial banks offset higher interest rate compared to large customers. State-owned banks because of their capacity and status do not tend to solve their problems by raising the cost of credit to SMEs. Who is more active in this market, state-owned banks or commercial banks? As mentioned above, currently state-owned banks because of its capabilities are considerably more active behavior in this market. In addition, through them, made a number of government programs aimed at the development of SMEs. It is believed that SME lending is more risky than large businesses. Since SMEs are less transparent, they are usually significant problems with the mortgage, they are less stable. But some banks will still lend to SMEs. What is interesting for this segment of the Russian credit organizations? Is there some specific work in the SME sector? Given that a large share of internal trade of the country falls on SMEs, this segment is by definition should be of interest to banks. SMEs also allow banks to diversify its loan portfolio due to minor amounts of loans and increase their number. We should not forget about the growth of its customer base of the bank, enjoying the other bank products. In your opinion, what problems in the field of SMEs are not yet resolved? If we talk about lending - the main problems in the field of SMEs are the low level of transparency of SMEs and the lack of liquidity support. What now is the government program supported SMEs? How effective and appropriate? Virtually all regions of Russia are functioning Guarantee Fund receive funds from both the regional and the federal budget. Their main functions are to provide guarantees for small businesses up to 70% of total liabilities. This gives the possibility of obtaining credit to borrowers with insufficient liquid collateral. There is also a program to provide regional banks cash resources for lending to SMEs under the existing mortgage loan portfolio of banks. The program is implemented by RBD - a subsidiary of Vnesheconombank. It must be noted and a program to subsidize SMEs in lending for the purchase of domestic agricultural machinery. All of these programs are not mere formalities, they are working successfully and improving, and we can already announce their success. A good stimulus for the development of SME lending operations of banks would be the introduction of the Bank of Russia more loyal approaches to the creation of reserves for loans to this category of borrowers. In lending there are alternative sources of funding. For example, factoring and leasing. What do I need to pay attention to the entrepreneur, when he chooses a source of funding? What do you think is preferable? First of all, you need to pay attention to the cost of funding source, and additional financing conditions put forward by the banks. In addition, it is necessary to properly assess their own capabilities in terms of timely execution of the obligations may provide a source of funding. In any case the choice of an alternative source of funding is possible only after a preliminary analysis of customer needs, its financial position, business features, structure-funded transaction, which will help hold the bank's specialists Recently, a draft federal law on microfinance and microfinance institutions "was approved by the State Duma. It will regulate the activities of microfinance institutions. Now such a kind of companies are already on the market. What is the MFI different from the bank? Than it can be useful for businessmen? Do I need to, in general, such structures when there are banks? Given the fact that microfinance institutions have been working to provide loans to small businesses with limited access to bank credit by small amounts required, the lack of security, lack of transparency of business structure, lack of credit history or other restrictions, in fact they serve the needs of clients , for some parameters not had come up to the banks. According to the Russian Microfinance Center average size of micro-loans to non-banking sector is about 60 thousand rubles. For comparison - the average loan size of SMEs in Svyaz-Bank "for more than 9 million rubles. That is a completely different financial niches. Microcredit banks effectively in the event of skorringovyh programs, but most of the banks at the prevailing market conditions in no hurry to use them in connection with the increased risks of using such methods of financial analysis of the borrower. Similar structures have stimulated the emergence of new small businesses, funded the first steps toward stabilizing their financial and economic activity, that is almost an incubator for the cultivation of new clients. What is the term for consideration of applications for potential borrowers today - representatives of SMEs? What determines the conditions of the loan: from businesses such as mortgage, how long has the company from the region where the company operates, and so on? Term of loan application to Svyaz-Bank "does not exceed 10 working days. Future plans include the introduction of skorringovyh programs that significantly reduce the time for consideration of applications from small businesses. Terms of the loan depend on a complex parameter: the financial situation of the borrower, the stability and specificity of its business from perfect, and transparency of financial and economic activities of the borrower, on the purpose of the requested loan, the availability of liquidity provision and sources of repayment, the availability of positive credit history, etc . etc. Advise entrepreneurs on what they need to pay attention to when entering into a credit agreement? The first borrower must understand the real cost of credit, that is, calculate the effective (real) interest rate, taking into account all the commissions and other payments under the loan agreement. In any event, before signing a contract, you should carefully review all contract terms and if there are misunderstandings ask the bank officer to clarify the position of the bank on various parameters of the contract.
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