Georgia-based microbank Crystal says its loan portfolio has grown by around 8% over the past year, supported by strong demand for micro, business and agricultural loans. The lender’s General Director, Ilia Revia, said growth has been particularly noticeable in the agricultural segment during the spring season.
Speaking to BMG, Revia said the institution has also improved its profitability since receiving a microbank license in February 2025 and beginning operations under the new status in June of the same year. According to April data, Crystal’s return on equity stood at approximately 15.5%, while its customer base remained stable.
Revia noted that obtaining a microbank license allowed Crystal to accept deposits, helping diversify its funding sources and reduce reliance on foreign-currency financing. Locally attracted funds now account for 11% of the bank’s funding structure, which he described as a strong result after just one year. He also said increasing availability of lari-denominated financing from international funds has reduced hedging needs and strengthened the institution’s funding profile.
While funding costs in foreign currencies have generally increased across the market, Revia said lari-denominated financing remains relatively stable. He added that Crystal’s limited exposure to variable-rate lending has helped shield clients from interest-rate fluctuations. According to National Bank data, Georgia’s two microbanks, Crystal and MBC, generated a combined net profit of GEL 7.1 million in the first four months of 2026, up 33% year-on-year. Crystal accounted for GEL 5.9 million of that total, while MBC reported GEL 1.2 million.
