Finance
Russia's Central Bank Eases Reserve Rules for Banks to Restructure Company Loans
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on December 30, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
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Russia's central bank eases reserve rules for banks, aiding loan restructuring for companies like Russian Railways. Recommendations extend into 2026.
Russia's Central Bank Adjusts Reserve Rules for Loan Restructuring
MOSCOW, Dec 30 (Reuters) - The Russian central bank said on Tuesday it had eased reserve requirements for restructured loans, a move that could help heavily indebted companies such as Russian Railways reduce their debt burden.
Russian Railways, the country's largest employer, is struggling with falling cargo volumes and higher interest rates and is discussing with banks and the government restructuring its debt, amounting to 4 trillion roubles ($51.22 billion).
Andrei Kostin, CEO of VTB Bank, Russian Railways' main creditor, said in an interview with Reuters that banks are ready to defer payments provided the central bank does not increase reserve requirements for these loans.
The central bank said on Tuesday that it had extended into the first half of 2026 its recommendations for banks to restructure loans for corporate borrowers and individual entrepreneurs facing temporary difficulties.
It added that it had eased reserve requirements in order to encourage banks to follow these recommendations.
Such borrowers include companies with a moderate debt burden that have regularly serviced their debt over the past six months and have provided a "realistic business plan" for the next three years, the central bank said.
Banks must regularly check whether borrowers are meeting their plans and create additional reserves if targets are missed.
($1 = 78.1000 roubles)
(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Gleb Stolyarov; Editing by Gleb Bryanski)
Key Takeaways
- •Russia's central bank eases reserve requirements for restructured loans.
- •Move aims to help companies like Russian Railways reduce debt.
- •Banks encouraged to defer payments without increasing reserves.
- •Recommendations extended into first half of 2026.
- •Borrowers must provide realistic business plans for three years.
Frequently Asked Questions about Russia's central bank eases reserve rules for banks to restructure company loans
1What is a central bank?
A central bank is a financial institution responsible for managing a country's currency, money supply, and interest rates. It oversees the banking system and implements monetary policy to ensure economic stability.
2What is debt restructuring?
Debt restructuring is a process where a borrower and lender agree to modify the terms of an existing debt. This can include changing payment schedules, interest rates, or the total amount owed to make it more manageable.
3What are reserve requirements?
Reserve requirements are regulations set by central banks that determine the minimum amount of reserves a bank must hold against deposits. This ensures banks have enough liquidity to meet withdrawal demands.
4What is a corporate borrower?
A corporate borrower is a business entity that takes loans from financial institutions to finance its operations, expansion, or other financial needs. They are typically assessed based on their creditworthiness.
5What is a financial crisis?
A financial crisis is a situation where the value of financial institutions or assets drops significantly, leading to a loss of confidence in the financial system. This can result in economic downturns and widespread financial instability.
