Loans Will Become Unavailable to a Quarter of russians

Starting in 2026, only officially employed citizens with a confirmed income will be able to take a loan from a bank or microfinance organization in russia. As a result, a quarter of the population will lose access to credit, and businesses will lose a significant portion of their customers.

Currently, lenders use various methods to assess borrowers’ solvency: from their own statistical data and average salaries according to “rosstat” to bank card receipts. This diversity allowed russians who were denied a loan at one bank to obtain a loan at another. However, since July 2025, the central bank has banned the assessment of debt burden based on credit histories, leaving only official data.

A significant share of workers in russia receive so-called “gray” wages—a minimum official portion and a larger, informal supplement. These funds are used for consumer spending, but banks will no longer count them as income. As a result, even those who are employed will lose the opportunity to take out a loan for the amount they need.

The authorities explain the new requirements by the growth of problem debt and the need for a more accurate assessment of borrowers’ financial condition. However, for millions of russians, this will mean being cut off from banking products and credit programs. Young people without a credit history, the self-employed, and those who work only partially “in white” will be particularly affected.