VTB has increased the issuance of preferential loans to agrarians and small and medium-sized businesses.

      As of the first half of 2026, VTB increased the issuance of preferential loans to agricultural producers in the small and medium-sized business (SMB) sector by 13% year-on-year, reaching 72.5 billion rubles. This was announced at the WEF 2026 by VTB Board Member Ruslan Yeremenko. Currently, VTB's total portfolio for state support programs for the agricultural sector amounts to 303.2 billion rubles. The main concentration of credit transactions is in the Lipetsk and Voronezh regions, the Republic of Tatarstan, and the Ryazan region. The key driver of growth remains government program No. 1528. The largest volume of preferential funds under this program, as of the first half of 2026, was provided to companies engaged in the production and processing of crop and livestock products, as well as for the processing and production of meat and dairy products from large cattle, and for financing small forms of farming. "Financing the agro-industrial complex is one of the bank's priority areas in working with small and medium-sized businesses. We see a stable demand from farmers for financing, especially during planting and harvesting periods, when the need for working capital significantly increases. In these conditions, preferential mechanisms play a special role, allowing businesses to attract financing on more favorable terms. For us, it is important not just to provide funds, but to support the client at all stages—from planting to processing. Behind the growth in lending volumes is systemic support for thousands of farms that ensure the country's food security," noted Ruslan Yeremenko. The effectiveness of using preferential funds is confirmed by the implemented projects. Previously, the bank financed the construction of greenhouse complexes in the Novosibirsk region and the Altai Territory for growing orchids and chrysanthemums, provided a loan for the construction of a dairy farm in the Irkutsk region, modernized cheese production in Stavropol, and supported other projects.