OREANDA-NEWS. More than 300 new entrepreneurs in southern Russia have set up businesses together with Center-invest Bank. The bank has provided start-ups with more than RUB350m in finance.

Supporting and developing entrepreneurship is a priority for Center-invest Bank. We have worked with start-ups since 2011 and we support new entrepreneurs through our Start-Up and Youth Business Russia programmes.

Under the Start-Up programme, aspiring entrepreneurs can access three-year loans with a six-month grace period, working capital loans, and one year's free business banking, including online banking.

The Youth Business Russia programme has been running in the Rostov region since 2012. In September 2014 it was launched in Krasnodar Krai. Under this programme, entrepreneurs aged 18-35 can obtain three-year loans of up to RUB300,000 without needing to provide security or a guarantee. As well as financial assistance, the programme offers young entrepreneurs guidance from individual mentors, advice on business planning, and training in running a business.

Advice Centres based in Center-invest Bank branches in Rostov-on-Don, Taganrog, Shakhty and Volgodonsk run free seminars for new entrepreneurs every week.

Center-invest Bank has always supported its customers, offering them the best loan terms and assessing every loan application on a case-by-case basis.