Lukashenko wants single payment facilitation center

MINSK, 10 March (BelTA) – We need to single center to assist enterprises in conducting payments, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko set the task as he spoke at the meeting of the Council of Ministers on 10 March, BelTA has learned.

The head of state emphasized that enterprises, especially in the regions, criticize the work of the banking system. There are two main complaints. The first one is insufficient help from the banks in finding the ways to make payments (even consulting support is poor). The second one is the long processing of loan applications. “Often banks do not even bother to inform the applicant about the decision,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

“I warn you, Pavel Vladimirovich [Kallaur, Chairman of the National Bank]. Our banking system is like a state within a state. That is what I have said many times. It should not be like that,” the Belarusian leader added.

The president set a very simple and clear task for the banking sector, which is to set up a single payment facilitation center.

“Where it is applicable, it is necessary to carefully review the funding procedure. Enterprises cannot wait for weeks and months for their application to be approved or turned down,” the head of state said. “The banking system must generate resources optimal in terms of timing and cost to meet the demand for loans,” he added.

“Each of our step must be verified and calculated today. Everyone should see the future and act strategically. Then the year 2023 will be another step in our development. If we miss something now, it will be hard to catch up later, it will be even impossible,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.