Russia's Microloan Debt Climbs 16% as Overdue Share Hits 33.8% in Q1
Updated
Updated · Українські Національні Новини · Jul 5
Russia's Microloan Debt Climbs 16% as Overdue Share Hits 33.8% in Q1
1 articles · Updated · Українські Національні Новини · Jul 5
Summary
$10.33 billion in microloan debt was outstanding in Russia in Q1 2026, up 16% year on year, while loans overdue by more than 90 days rose to 33.8%.
A 3% drop in new lending to $6.3 billion masked the strain: tighter rules curbed the riskiest short-term consumer loans, but demand shifted into less transparent channels instead of fading.
$519.1 million in microloans to businesses—mostly individual entrepreneurs—grew 22%, while bad-debt portfolios sold to collectors at discounts of up to 78%, signaling weak recovery prospects.
Pawnshops signed 4.9 million contracts and expanded their portfolio 35% to $1.5 billion, with the average loan reaching $358 as Russians increasingly pawned gold for quick cash.
The rise in costly borrowing adds to wider fiscal pressure in Russia, where the Q1 2026 budget deficit reached 4.576 trillion rubles as oil and gas revenue fell 45% and military spending rose 17%.