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Belgrade, Serbia, November 6, 2017
—IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is providing a RSD 775 million (approximately €6.5 million equivalent) loan to Opportunity Bank Serbia (OBS) to help finance farmers, and micro and small enterprises (MSEs), so they can grow their businesses and generate new jobs. IFC is also providing advisory services to OBS on developing a digitization strategy.
IFC’s first loan in Serbian dinars will help OBS, a leading micro and small business bank focusing on delivering financial services to rural farmers and microenterprises, further expand its portfolio. MSEs account for more than half of employment in Serbia, yet many of them, especially young farmers and young companies, are unable to obtain bank loans because of their lack of credit history. The agriculture sector is also the second largest economic contributor to the country’s GDP.
IFC’s advisory services, meanwhile, will focus on helping OBS digitize its services to improve efficiency and reach new clients.
“Micro and small entrepreneurs and farmers are often excluded from the banking sector, because they have no collateral or credit history, or they’re just considered too small for the high transaction cost,” said Vladimir Vukotic, CEO of OBS. “IFC’s loan and advisory services will help us reinforce our long-term commitment to supporting this segment, as we focus on sustainable growth and further diversifying our MSE portfolio.”
New job opportunities created by the private sector are even more crucial in Serbia today where the government has embarked on a series of reforms of state-owned enterprises. That process will only increase the role MSEs and small scale agriculture can play in creating jobs.
“This is IFC’s first loan denominated in Serbian dinars, eliminating cross-currency mismatches for the borrower,” said Thomas Lubeck, IFC Regional Manager for Central and Southeastern Europe. “IFC’s loan will help expand OBS and widen financial opportunities for local farmers and smaller businesses, while the advisory services engagement will help OBS to start digitizing its operations, in line with international best practices.”
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. Working with more than 2,000 businesses worldwide, we use our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in the toughest areas of the world. In FY17, we delivered a record $19.3 billion in long-term financing for developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to help end poverty and boost shared prosperity. For more information, visit
www.ifc.org
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About Opportunity Bank Serbia
Opportunity Bank Serbia (OBS) is a community bank specializing in microfinance, providing micro, rural, agro and SME loans and other financial services to their clients in Serbia that cannot ordinarily access financial services from traditional banks. Opportunity Bank has been active in Serbia since 2002, when it was first established as Opportunity Savings Bank. It successfully transformed into a bank in 2007 with a license issued by the National Bank of Serbia. The bank is a member of “Opportunity International” – a network of banks and microfinance organizations founded in Chicago in 1971. For more information, visit
www.obs.rs
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