In Russia, the number of banks that ended the first half of the year with losses has increased
The number of banks operating at a loss has risen sharply in Russia. As of August 2026, 65 out of 300 Russian banks reported a net loss. This is according to data from the Central Bank of the Russian Federation.
The problems have not been limited to the banking sector. At the end of the second quarter of 2026, 24.5% of credit institutions—which also include microfinance companies—were operating at a loss. For comparison, a year earlier this figure stood at 18%.
The negative trend continued throughout the third quarter. From January to August, the number of unprofitable credit institutions in Russia rose by 87% year-over-year—to 86 institutions.
Among banks specifically, 65 out of 300 institutions reported losses.
At the same time, the Central Bank of the Russian Federation asserts that the losses of individual credit institutions do not pose a threat to the stability of the entire banking system. It notes that negative results are primarily reported by banks with a small share of the sector’s total assets.
Despite the increase in the number of loss-making institutions, the Russian banking sector may end 2026 with a record aggregate profit.
According to the Central Bank of Russia’s forecast, the banks’ total financial result for the year will amount to 3.9–4.4 trillion rubles.
On September 2, the Russian regulator raised its forecast by 500 billion rubles. The Central Bank attributed this to the continued high interest margin.
At the same time, profits are distributed very unevenly among institutions. According to estimates, about 75–76% of the total financial result is accounted for by just the ten largest Russian banks.
At the same time, temporary losses in the second quarter were recorded not only by small credit institutions but also by some large banks.
One of the main reasons cited for the deterioration in the financial position of small and regional banks is the high cost of raising funds.
Another factor was the deterioration in the quality of loan portfolios. The increase in delinquent debt is forcing banks to set aside larger reserves, which directly weighs on their financial performance.
Additional pressure arose following the reduction in the key interest rate. As a result, small banks are earning less income from investing their excess liquidity, while deposits attracted earlier at high rates continue to generate significant interest expenses.
Thus, the Russian banking sector presents a mixed picture: while forecasts for aggregate profit are at record highs, the number of loss-making institutions is rising, particularly among small and regional banks.
This is reported by Russian media.
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