Lending to small and medium businesses: situation in the regions of Russia

The article considers credit support of small and medium business in regions of Russia. The imposed sanctions and counter-sanctions led to the emergence of harsh conditions for doing business by small and medium-sized businesses. Bank loans and financial subsidies of the state are the most popular sources of financing for these business entities. The paper summarizes the results of studying statistical data characterizing the development of lending to the SMB, the main trends and the role of the banking system and the state in this process. The author identifies problems which credit institutions face, and the ways of solving them. The risks of lending to small and medium enterprises are also considered, and the ways to reduce those risks.