Anatoly Popov, the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors at Sberbank, spoke during an interview with Rossiya 24 on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum. He highlighted a notable shift in the bank’s housing financing activity in the Far East, pointing out a 76% rise over the last two years. The figures reflect a broader trend where regional housing markets increasingly attract both developers and homebuyers thanks to targeted mortgage programs and favorable financing terms.
Popov noted that the Far East had historically trailed behind the more developed western regions, but a decisive push from regional mortgage initiatives helped accelerate growth. The Far Eastern mortgage, designed to offer residents access to affordable financing, played a pivotal role in energizing demand and enabling more efficient project execution in the district. This policy shift is part of a larger strategy to spur development across the Far Eastern Federal District and reduce regional disparities in housing supply.
According to the comments from Sberbank’s top executive, the policy environment helped pump new life into the local real estate market. A wave of developers emerged, and many have since expanded their operations to cover all areas within the Far Eastern Federal District. This expansion has brought more housing options to market and created a broader ecosystem for construction, financing, and home ownership in the region.
Popov emphasized that Sberbank financed more than half of the residential real estate built in the Far East, underscoring the bank’s central role in funding regional housing supply. The bank’s involvement has helped ensure that construction activity remains steady and capable of meeting rising demand from residents and investors alike, contributing to a more robust regional housing market overall.
He also pointed out that the supply of apartment projects in the Far East now matches the national average. This parity signals improved access to new homes and suggests that developers have adapted to local conditions, achieving a balance between project quality, pace, and cost. For buyers, this translates into a broader selection of quality housing on more favorable terms, with financing that aligns with household budgets.
In addition to residential development, Popov noted a broader infrastructure agenda that includes social projects. Sberbank’s financing supported more than twenty school construction projects in the Far East through public-private partnership arrangements. These collaborations bring together the public sector and private capital to deliver educational facilities that meet growing regional needs and quality standards, supporting long-term community stability and youth opportunities.
Another significant area of the bank’s regional impact concerns environmental infrastructure. Sberbank has been involved in projects for the disposal of solid household waste, executed in partnership with the Russian Environmental Operator. To date, the bank has financed eight such projects. These efforts reflect a commitment to sustainable urban development in the Far East, addressing waste management challenges while supporting economic growth and improved living conditions for residents.
Taken together, the bank’s activities in the Far East reveal a coordinated strategy that blends housing finance, educational infrastructure, and environmental services. The combination aims to strengthen regional resilience, diversify the local economy, and create a foundation for continued population growth and urban development. The ongoing collaboration with regional authorities and private partners appears to be guiding the Far East toward a more dynamic and self-sustaining development trajectory, with Sberbank positioned as a major catalyst in this transformation.
These shifts in financing and project focus illustrate how financial institutions can influence regional growth by aligning lending policies with public development goals. In the Far East, that alignment is visible in the steady expansion of housing stock, improved access to education facilities, and enhanced waste management systems. The overall effect is a more attractive environment for residents, investors, and developers who are seeking stable, long-term opportunities within Russia’s eastern territories.