Uniastrum Bank Offers Ryazan Region’s Small Business Community Smoother Credit

Moscow, Russia, October 30, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Uniastrum’s Ryazan branch continues to deliver on its commitment to supporting small and midsized businesses operating in the region. Year-on-year (September 1, 2010 – September 1, 2011), the branch’s corporate credit portfolio expanded 57% to Rb 1.3 bn and its SB portfolio more than 50%. Today over 500 enterprises in the Ryazan region are Uniastrum clients, and their number is increasing, thanks largely to the easy terms offered under the Bank’s lending schemes, as well as cash management, deposit, leasing, and other services.

Uniastrum Bank’s working relationship with the Ryazan Region Small Enterprise Assistance Fund will ensure that loans are more readily available for local small and midsized businesses. By taking advantage of the Fund’s program, enterprises lacking sufficient liquid collateral can secure the amount they need. The Fund is ready to guarantee up to 50% of any loan commitment undertaken. A Uniastrum Fund-supported loan is available to any small business registered and operating in the Ryazan region. Under the scheme, borrower enterprises must have been working for no less than 12 months, be current on taxes and other government payments, and be able to lodge collateral equal to at least 50% of the principal.

“Small business is one of our target segments,” says Kirill Tikhonov, Uniastrum’s Managing Director for Corporate Business Development. “We don’t just offer enterprises loans, but also help them select an optimum financing scheme and structure their projects properly in order to ensure they use the credited funds as effectively as possible.”

CB Uniastrum Bank LLC was established in 1994. Uniastrum is a universal lending institution offering a comprehensive range of financial products and services, with particular focus given to the retail sector and small and medium-sized business. Uniastrum is one of Russia’s Top-30 systemically important banks, as ranked by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, and places among the country’s Top-20 banks based on the size of its branch network. It is Russia’s 48th largest bank by asset size, 37th by loan portfolio value, 31st by total retail loans, and 11th by overall SME credits, according to figures released by RosBusinessConsulting news agency. Uniastrum’s financial statement for January 1, 2011 showed the Bank’s equity capital standing at Rb 9 bn. Moody’s Investors Service affirmed Uniastrum’s long-term credit rating at Ba3 with a stable outlook, while Moody’s Interfax Rating Agency affirmed its national scale rating at Aa3.ru. Uniastrum is a deposit insurance scheme participant. The Bank’s regional network currently numbers more than 200 offices (including 43 branches) in 48 Russian regions. Since October 31, 2008 Uniastrum Bank has been a member of the Bank of Cyprus Group.

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