Small businesses in Albania still struggle to get loans

Small businesses in Albania have slightly better access to financing than before, but they still trail their regional peers, according to a new OECD report.

Albania scored 3.13 out of 5 on access to finance for small and medium-sized businesses in the 2026 assessment, up from 3.05 in the previous review. The Western Balkan average was 3.21.

The OECD said Albania has made progress in leasing, factoring and microfinance, and has adopted a new financial education strategy.

But bank lending remains a weak spot. Businesses still face problems getting loans because of gaps in credit information and difficulties registering collateral.

The report said Albania still lacks a legal framework for a private credit bureau, while its credit register does not include data from utility companies. It said stronger loan guarantees and better collateral registration would make financing easier.