Over the year, the number of loans has more than doubled
This year, Russians began to take out loans more often for smartphones, laptops, other electronics and household appliances, as reported by Kommersant with reference to Russian banks.
Tinkoff Credit Broker specialists reported that from January to September 2023, Russians applied for the purchase of equipment using installment plans and POS loans 2.3 times more often than during the same period in 2022. In September, the number of applications for installment plans was at the level of February 2022. Over the past year, the number of loan applications has increased by 25%.
Sber says that compared to 2021, the total volume of POS loans (issued at points of sale) has more than doubled. Loans for TVs began to be taken out more often by 145%, followed by smartphones (101%) and laptops (87%). According to M.Video-Eldorado, the number of loans for electronics at their points of sale in 2023 increased by 15.8%.
A top manager of a large electronics chain said that due to an increase in the key rate, the chain has reduced the range of goods available for purchase in installments by 30%.
Kommersant writes that stores that do not have partners or their own financial institution are forced to reduce the assortment available for purchase through installment plans.