JSC OTP BANK has received a second grant from the USAID Business Resilience Investment Project to expand access to finance for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. More than 100 companies have already been financed under the first tranche. The new tranche of $2.76 million will bring the total grant amount to $4 million. The funds will be used to offset part of the interest rate for borrowing companies.
The grant program stipulates that the bank will lend to businesses at an interest rate of 9.9% per annum in the first year of the loan agreement. The difference between the rate for clients and the market rate will be compensated by grant funds. In the second and subsequent years, clients will pay interest on the use of credit funds at the rate of UIRD3m + 5% per annum (UIRD3m is the Ukrainian index of rates for three-month retail deposits).
Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises with an annual income of up to EUR 50 million and up to 250 employees belonging to one of the following target groups will be able to receive financing on favorable terms from OTP Bank
– relocated businesses or those affected by military operations
– companies belonging to critical economic sectors (agricultural production, production of building materials, electrical devices, transportation, logistics, processing, etc;)
– companies co-owned by women.
“The project started cooperation with OTP Bank under this grant program in September 2023. The results of our partnership are significant. During this time, more than 100 companies have received financing from the bank for almost UAH 550 million at a compensated interest rate. The objectives of the second stage of the program are even more ambitious – to provide access to financing and compensate the interest rate to more than 330 enterprises. We believe that such business support will contribute to the recovery of Ukraine’s economy, which is suffering tremendously from the war,” said Raphael Jabba, USAID Business Resilience Investment Project Chief of Party.
The maximum loan amount that a company or a united group of companies can receive under this program is UAH 20 million, and the minimum is UAH 1 million.
The grant program also applies to factoring agreements, under which the bank’s clients can receive up to 90% of the cost of supplies in the amount of UAH 2 million to UAH 20 million.
Special conditions will apply to agricultural producers if they use the funds received under the grant program to purchase products from OTP Agro Factory’s partners.
“The cooperation between OTP Bank and the USAID Business Sustainability Investment Project continues, and it means a lot to us. The bank has proven to be a reliable and efficient partner, time-tested, and one that fulfills its obligations flawlessly. The grant is extremely important for Ukraine and its economy, which is under incredible pressure in the context of the war. Thanks to this program, businesses in critical industries will receive much-needed support, companies affected by the war will be able to recover, and women entrepreneurs will receive an additional incentive to develop their business,” said Volodymyr Mudryi, CEO of OTP Bank.
During the first stage of the program, which began in 2023, more than 100 Ukrainian enterprises were provided with financing. Among them were companies from the agricultural sector, businesses dominated by women in the management team, as well as enterprises from critical sectors of the economy and those that were forced to relocate production due to the war. In addition, as part of the program, representatives of MSMEs used factoring services on favorable terms.
About the USAID Project “Invest for Business Resilience”
The USAID Investment for Business Resilience (IBR) Project is a five-year program implemented by DAI Global that supports systemic changes in Ukraine’s economy and increases the supply of financing available to Ukrainian businesses. The IBR project aims to transform the country’s financial sector into a well-functioning and competitive market that meets European Union standards and is integrated into international financial systems, while directly providing financing to businesses to ensure sustainable economic growth in Ukraine.
For more information on USAID IBR’s activities in Ukraine, please visit the USAID IBR Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/IBRUAproject
About OTP BANK
JSC OTP BANK is one of the largest Ukrainian banks with foreign capital, which is a recognized leader in the country’s financial sector. It has been present on the market since 1998 and has a strong reputation as a socially responsible, reliable and stable structure offering European quality services to its customers. The bank provides a full range of financial services to corporate and private clients, as well as small and medium-sized businesses.
Since 2019, according to the decision of the NBU, OTP Bank has been included in the list of systemically important banks of Ukraine, which have a significant impact on the development of the country’s financial system.
In Ukraine, JSC OTP BANK is the flagship of the OTP banking group registered by the National Bank of Ukraine, which also includes OTP Capital AMC LLC, OTP Leasing LLC, Freefly non-state pension fund and OTP Pension open pension fund.
