According to the results for 2025, approximately 40% of loans to small and medium-sized businesses were used to purchase specialized equipment and vehicles. At the same time, about 80% of the loans granted were for amounts up to 1.5 million hryvnias with a repayment term of up to 3 years.
This was reported by Oksana Shulga, Director of the Small and Medium-Sized Business Department at GLOBUS BANK.
According to her, the most in-demand vehicles among entrepreneurs are cargo and cargo-passenger minibuses and vans, forklifts, trailers of various configurations, tractor-trailers, and a variety of construction equipment: from concrete mixers to construction cranes.
At the same time, the main industries whose companies purchased commercial vehicles on credit are as follows:
• Transportation and logistics (including postal and courier services) — approximately 25% of loans issued;
• Wholesale and retail trade and the construction sector — 20% each on average;
• Telecommunications — 17%;
• Agricultural companies and forestry enterprises — about 14%;
• Mining industry — 12%;
• Manufacturing industry (including food processing) — up to 7%.
The banker noted that nearly 95% of loans are issued through joint programs between banks and suppliers/manufacturers of specialized equipment and vehicles, which allows borrowers to obtain loans at rates 1–2 percentage points lower than the market average.
“Throughout 2025, rates under joint programs ranged from 11% to 16% per annum, which motivated entrepreneurs to borrow more actively,” emphasized Oksana Shulga.
Regarding the development of leasing programs for commercial vehicles, the expert noted that this market segment is growing precisely because of small and medium-sized businesses, which are choosing leasing as an alternative to direct purchase.
She noted that the highest demand is for trucks, vans, construction and agricultural equipment, as well as specialized vehicles for logistics and service companies.
“The key terms of leasing programs are the down payment amount (between 20% and 30%), the repayment term—from 1 to 5 years—insurance, and the inclusion of other payments in the schedule,” she explained.
According to her, in 2026, the drivers of demand will remain the recovery of logistics, the construction sector, and agribusiness. She forecasts a 15–17% increase in lending for specialized equipment and commercial vehicles compared to last year. Given macroeconomic stability and the recovery of business investment activity, entrepreneurs can expect improved lending terms.
The expert noted that if the discount rate is lowered to 14–14.5%, loan rates for the purchase of equipment and vehicles could drop to 10–15% per annum. At the same time, the development of lending will continue to depend on adequate funding for preferential programs, such as “Affordable Loans 5–7–9%” and “Affordable Financial Leasing 5–7–9%.”
What Entrepreneurs Should Pay Attention To
The expert advises evaluating a loan through the lens of the business’s actual capabilities—whether it will be manageable in day-to-day operations.
First, it’s important to consider not just the interest rate, but the total cost of the loan.
“The nominal rate is only part of the cost. You need to factor in the origination fee, monthly service charges, insurance, ancillary payments, and so on. It is the effective interest rate that reveals the true cost of the loan. If you don’t do this, the actual burden on the business may turn out to be higher than expected,” the banker emphasized.
Second, it is essential to make a realistic assessment of cash flows.
“Equipment or vehicles must generate income that covers loan payments. It is important to understand the seasonality of the business, potential downtime, and the risk of a decline in orders. Without a financial ‘cushion,’ even a favorable loan can become an excessive burden,” noted Oksana Shulga.
Third, you should carefully read the terms of the agreement. This includes the possibility of early repayment without penalties, restructuring options in case of difficulties, and the procedure for changing the interest rate. Flexible terms are sometimes more important than a difference of a few tenths of a percent.
She also advises choosing a bank with experience in the relevant segment, as specialized programs often offer better expertise and faster decisions.
“Entrepreneurs are no longer putting off upgrading their equipment ‘until better times.’ Businesses understand that investments in transport and equipment mean efficiency, speed, and competitiveness. That is why there are indications that lending for specialized equipment and commercial transport will continue to grow in 2026. Provided there is a stable macroeconomic situation, predictable monetary policy, and adequate funding for government programs, interest rates may gradually decline, and access to resources may expand. “This means that small and medium-sized businesses will have more opportunities to modernize their fleets, adopt modern technologies, and scale up their operations. In essence, this is about laying the foundation for the long-term development of entrepreneurship in Ukraine,” concluded Oksana Shulga.
GLOBUS COMMERCIAL BANK (GLOBUS BANK) was established in 2007.
As of March 2026, the regional network comprises 34 branches, 29 of which are part of the Power Banking network, enabling operations during power outages.
GLOBUS BANK has been assigned the highest credit rating on the national scale at uaAAA, as well as a deposit rating of ua2+ on the scale of the rating agency “Expert-Rating.”
The bank’s priority areas of activity include lending for energy-efficient projects, mortgage lending in the primary market, auto loans, and lending to small and medium-sized businesses.
GLOBUS BANK is an accredited partner of a number of government programs: the state mortgage program “eOselya,” the preferential lending programs for small and medium-sized businesses “5-7-9,” “Affordable Factoring,” “Affordable Financial Leasing 5-7-9,” “Energy Independence for Individuals—Homeowners.”
The Bank is a partner of the State Agency “Energy Efficiency Fund” under the “Energodim” and “GreenDIM” lending programs for condominium associations and housing cooperatives.
The Bank participates in the state program “National Cashback.”
On June 25, 2024, GLOBUS BANK became one of the 17 largest Ukrainian banks to sign a Memorandum on lending for energy infrastructure restoration projects.
Serhiy Mamedov, Chairman of the Board of GLOBUS BANK, is Vice President of the Confederation of Builders of Ukraine and Vice President of the Association of Ukrainian Banks.
