EIB Group and ABN AMRO launch over €1bn SME financing boost

In a landmark move set to energise the Dutch small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector, ABN AMRO Bank and the European Investment Bank Group (EIB Group) have joined forces to make over €1 billion available for lending to Dutch SMEs and mid-caps.

The agreement, finalised between ABN AMRO, the European Investment Fund (EIF), and the European Investment Bank (EIB), marks the largest securitisation deal in the EIB Group’s history. The transaction is designed to bolster access to capital for Dutch businesses, with a strong focus on economic growth and environmental sustainability.

Under the terms of the deal, the EIB Group will provide a guarantee on a €1.0 billion portfolio of existing Dutch SME loans originated by ABN AMRO. In parallel, ABN AMRO has committed to issuing up to €1.2 billion in new loans to SMEs and mid-caps at competitive, favourable interest rates.

“We have a strategic goal to support SMEs and mid-caps. We are therefore delighted once again to be in a position to offer EIB financing to our clients,” said Dan Dorner, Chief Commercial Officer Corporate Banking at ABN AMRO.

“ABN AMRO and the EIB have partnered several years to provide financing to Dutch companies. The EIB offers favourable conditions for our clients. This transaction will support the economic growth of our clients and their transition to climate neutrality and boost the SME loans in the Dutch market.”

Robert de Groot, Vice-President of the EIB Group, called the deal a “landmark” and praised the strength of the partnership:

“We are proud to close this landmark deal, which is the largest securitisation transaction in EIB Group history. It is also our first collaboration of this kind with ABN AMRO, leveraging on the strong relationship between both banks. This partnership will significantly enhance the availability of financing for SMEs in the Netherlands, driving economic growth and job creation.”

The financing framework aligns with the EIB Group’s mission to support EU policy objectives, particularly in innovation, climate action, and sustainable development. A portion of the newly available funding is earmarked specifically for environmental sustainability projects, further supporting the EU’s goal of achieving climate neutrality.

SMEs and mid-caps represent a critical segment of the Dutch and wider European economy, contributing significantly to employment, innovation, and local development. The funding is expected to unlock fresh investment, drive productivity, and help businesses adapt to the challenges of the green transition.

The deal involves a synthetic securitisation structure, in which the EIF guarantees credit risk exceeding a first-loss position retained by ABN AMRO. The EIB will counter-guarantee part of EIF’s exposure. The underlying €1.0 billion portfolio consists of loans to SME and mid-cap clients in the Netherlands.

At the transaction’s close, ABN AMRO anticipates a Risk-Weighted Assets (RWA) reduction of approximately €650 million—enhancing the bank’s capital management flexibility and enabling further lending activity.