Ukrsibbank (Kyiv) plans to increase its loan portfolio in the small and medium-sized business (SME) segment by more than 2.5 times in 2026, according to Vladimir Shevchenko, head of the retail sales department.
“Last year, we increased our loan portfolio in the SME segment by almost 3 times,” Shevchenko said during the presentation of the results of the European Business Association (EBA) study “Small Business Sentiment Index” 2026.
Commenting on the study data, according to which only 12% of entrepreneurs consider lending as a source of financing, Shevchenko noted that this figure is low compared to developed countries, but at the same time indicates the potential for growth after the end of the war.
“For me, this 12% is like a glass that is half full and half empty.
On the one hand, it is very little, but on the other, it is the potential that awaits us after victory,” he added.
The main barrier to more active lending to small businesses remains entrepreneurs’ uncertainty about the future, while banks do not have a shortage of liquidity or credit appetite.
Shevchenko added that banks are adapting their processes to SME requests for quick access to financing, in particular by reducing decision-making time and trying to use information from open sources to offer customers almost ready-made solutions.
The greatest demand for lending in the SME segment comes from the retail trade (financing of working capital and covering cash gaps), while enterprises in the agricultural sector, manufacturing, and logistics also actively need loans.
“Among the key requirements of small businesses for banks, in addition to the cost of lending, the speed and convenience of financing approval are becoming increasingly important, as customers are not willing to wait one or two months for a loan decision,” Shevchenko emphasized.
At the same time, he noted that a significant increase in the share of entrepreneurs who consider loans as a source of financing should not be expected before the end of the war.
Ukrsibbank is owned by BNP Paribas (France) — 60% and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) — 40%.
According to the regulator, as of January 1, 2026, the bank ranked 8th (UAH 186.48 billion) among 60 banks in Ukraine in terms of net assets, with a net profit of UAH 5.8 billion for 2025.
The bank’s net loan portfolio in 2025 increased by 73.9% to UAH 17.29 billion.
