Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day
Support at all levels
The larger the client company, the greater the profit - and the greater its significance to the bank? Not at ProCredit Bank. We understand what it’s like when you’re just starting out, and we believe in your potential. On the occasion of the MSME Day, we’d like to share a glimpse of what we do - and what we’re working on - in this segment of our operations.
About the Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day
Because of the significance of these enterprises for the economy of every country - through their contribution to employment and the positive impact on the communities in which they operate - the United Nations has designated one day each year to honor them.
The purpose of commemorating this day is to:
1. Raise awareness of the vital importance and contribution of MSMEs to global, regional and local economies.
2. Highlight the role of MSMEs in achieving the goals of sustainable development.
3. Promote innovative, creative, and sustainable business practices.
ProCredit Bank and MSMEs - a successful collaboration at all levels
In over 20 years of doing business in the Serbian market, we’ve had the opportunity to support numerous micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. Our experience has only fortified our determination to continue doing so in the future.
What distinguishes these enterprises, and what is our Bank doing to further its collaboration with them? We discussed this topic with Ivan Smiljković, Member of the Executive Board at ProCredit Bank.
Ivan Smiljković, Member of the Executive Board at ProCredit Bank
How does ProCredit Bank see the role of MSMEs in the Serbian economy?
Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are the very foundation of the Serbian economy and a key driver of the country’s sustainable development. These enterprises employ over two-thirds of the working-age population, generate a significant share of GDP, and are often the driving force behind innovation and local development. At ProCredit Bank, as much as 90% of our portfolio is made up of agricultural producers, entrepreneurs, and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. We recognise their potential and see them as essential partners in building a more resilient and dynamic economy. In the past five years alone, we have disbursed more than one billion euros in new funding, contributing to the diversification of economic activity, the promotion of innovation and technological advancement, and the stimulation of the local economy.
Looking ahead, we believe that the MSME sector will play an even greater role in the transformation of the Serbian economy - through business digitalisation, the development of new business models, and deeper integration into global value chains. As a bank, it is our role to remain a reliable partner to the MSME sector, to support its growth and modernisation, and to build, together, a competitive and sustainable economy of the future.
What are the greatest challenges MSMEs face today — and how does ProCredit Bank help them overcome these obstacles?
MSMEs are facing increasingly complex challenges — from adapting to digital trends and dealing with inflationary pressures to maintaining sustainable and efficient business operations. Many struggle with access to capital, bureaucratic hurdles, and a lack of strategic guidance. What ProCredit Bank offers isn’t just financing - we offer a partnership with people who understand business. Our advisors work directly with clients, analysing their needs and jointly defining the steps that lead to growth. ProCredit Bank’s digital infrastructure ensures fast access to financing, while transparent lending terms and clear communication help clients make informed and responsible decisions.
Through long-term partnerships, we offer affordable loans and grants made available through a specialised Support Programme implemented by the Ministry of Economy and the Serbian Development Agency, as well as through dedicated credit facilities in cooperation with financial institutions such as the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF).
Our approach is based on understanding the specific needs of each company and adapting to their business model and goals in order to jointly create solutions that meaningfully support their growth and development. ProCredit Bank’s individual approach aims not only to facilitate access to financing, but also to create the conditions for continuous growth, modernisation, and long-term improvement of competitiveness.
How does focusing on the developmental goals in working with small businesses contribute to achieving the Bank’s goals?
Our focus on the developmental goals of our clients - entrepreneurs and small businesses - directly contributes to the long-term sustainability and stability of ProCredit Bank. We believe that the Bank’s success is inextricably connected to our clients’ success. Through our financial products and advisory approach that foster innovation, green transition and improvement of business practices, we help MSMEs grow, modernise their processes and build resilience. This way, we simultaneously achieve the strategic goals of our Bank - in line with responsible banking principles, ESG standards and sustainable development goals.
This partnership model, based on long-term relationships, generates value for all parties involved: a stable and healthy expansion of the Bank’s portfolio, continual growth and modernisation of our clients as well as a positive contribution to our community and the economy as a whole.
The focus on the developmental goals of entrepreneurs contributes to the long-term sustainability and stability of our Bank. By offering financial products that foster innovation, green transition and social responsibility, we not only help MSMEs grow, but also, achieve our Bank’s own goals, which are aligned with responsible banking strategies and sustainable development objectives. Through this synergy, we promote shared prosperity, resulting in stable banking operations and a positive economic impact on the community.
How does the Bank develop products and services specifically tailored to the needs of the MSME sector?
ProCredit Bank develops products and services that are easy to use, flexible and transparent. Each product in our portfolio, whether it’s a business loan, working capital facility or investment loan, is carefully designed to suit our clients’ needs. In addition to competitive interest rates and favourable conditions, our offer also includes further support through advisory services and digital tools that enable our clients to monitor their operations more easily and to optimise their financial flows. Moreover, we continue to support our clients by offering them tailored solutions for innovations and green transition. At the same time, we ensure that their innovative ideas contribute to lasting improvements in our community.
Our approach is based on simple, clearly defined and straightforward products, tailored to the real needs of the MSME sector. Additionally, we make sure that the language we use when communicating with our clients is clear and transparent - we avoid unnecessary bureaucracy and complicated expressions - because we know that this is what makes doing business with the bank easier for a typical MSME owner.
Our goal is to become an equal partner to entrepreneurs - to understand their entrepreneurial spirit, to value their time and by offering them timely and appropriate financial support, to enable them to react promptly to business opportunities, invest and grow.
Additionally, through advisory support and the latest digital tools, we help them manage their businesses and financial flows more efficiently, while ensuring full control and transparency. In this way, we build our partnership together, and this partnership provides for a long-term and sustainable development.
How important are digital solutions to MSME growth, and what tools does the Bank offer to support this?
Digital solutions are necessary for the improvement of MSME businesses, as they provide for a more efficient management, lower operational costs and quicker access to the market. ProCredit Bank offers a variety of digital tools that streamline everyday operations. These include digital banking, online loans and expense monitoring tools. Through our digital platform, clients can easily and quickly manage their accounts, submit loan applications or monitor cash flows - all without having to visit the Bank. These tools enable entrepreneurs to remain focused on growth and innovation, leaving it to us to manage financial aspects of their business.
If you wish to learn more about our services for business clients, please visit our website or call our Business Support at 011 2057 070.
