According to RIA Novosti, Russia recorded a 24% rise in average payments on overdue microfinance loans in 2024, signaling stronger debt collection. The data come from a debt collection service that tracks assignments and transfers of delinquent accounts from original lenders to external collectors. Industry observers note that the increase in timely settlements helps reduce risk for microfinance institutes and improves signals of repayment discipline among borrowers.
Experts point to several factors behind the improvement. As more overdue balances are cleared, household cash flow improves and payment capacity rises. This in turn supports a higher quality of credit among MFI clients and a larger share of legal costs being recovered when enforcement actions are needed. The trend contributes to a more predictable microfinance market and better outcomes for lenders and borrowers alike.
Analyses cover more than 200,000 overdue debts transferred under assignment to collectors, either auctioned by primary creditors or sold directly. The data illustrate how the practice of selling debt assets reshapes repayment behavior, influences the speed of settlement, and affects the total cost of enforcement for all parties involved. The volume of such transfers underscores the scale of the debt-collection ecosystem in Russia’s microfinance sector.
On February 14, the head of the Federal Bailiff Service, Dmitry Aristov, reported that the average debt of Russians on loans stood at 121,300 rubles. The description of the typical debtor cites a man aged 30 to 45 who is married and has a child. Information from the report indicates that many borrowers live outside the capitals of regions or in large cities, and that some lacked a passport on file and postponed payments under a court enforcement order. This portrait helps explain the patterns behind delinquency and collection activity.
Earlier observations noted potential housing risks for some borrowers in housing and social services programs in 2025. The warning underscores how repayment challenges can translate into tangible housing outcomes for households already facing financial strain. Stakeholders in the credit and social support systems continue to monitor the debt landscape, considering policy levers and lender practices to support financial stability while maintaining access to credit for responsible borrowers.