Forced to do without additional commissions and finding it hard to finance retailing, Russian banks are beginning to leave the market. SB BANK (formerly, Shipbuilding Bank) is the first to abandon its retail project. Other banks may follow suit. According to SB BANK, it will focus on comprehensive services for corporate clients and credit mostly small and mid-size businesses. Operations in this segment are more fruitful and less risky than those of the retail segment. In one year of retail operations SB BANK retail assets accounted for 5.0% of the bank’s credit portfolio, which experts find a poor achievement.
Source: WWW.KOMMERSANT.RU, September 12, 2007
