EIF and Erste Bank Croatia Expand Support for Innovative SMEs with New €100 Million Guarantee Extension

EIF and Erste Bank Croatia Expand Support for Innovative SMEs with New €100 Million Guarantee Extension

(IN BRIEF) The European Investment Fund (EIF) and Erste Bank Croatia have expanded their partnership with a new €100 million guarantee extension under the EU’s InvestEU Portfolio Guarantee. This initiative brings the total EIF-backed financing for innovative SMEs and small mid-caps in Croatia to €305 million, supporting about 240 companies. The program focuses on innovation, sustainability, and creative industries while promoting balanced development in Just Transition and Cohesion Regions. EIF Deputy Chief Executive Merete Clausen praised the partnership’s role in driving business growth and competitiveness, while Erste Bank Croatia’s CEO Christoph Schoefboeck emphasized its impact on innovation and digital transformation. The InvestEU programme continues to play a vital role in promoting sustainable investment and job creation across Europe.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUXEMBOURG, 12-Nov-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Investment Fund (EIF) has announced a new €100 million guarantee extension for Erste & Steiermärkische Bank d.d. Croatia, aimed at boosting access to affordable and long-term financing for Croatian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and small mid-caps engaged in innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation. Backed by the European Union’s InvestEU Portfolio Guarantee, this latest extension builds on the successful partnership launched in 2022, which has already unlocked €305 million in guarantees, benefitting hundreds of companies across Croatia.

The renewed agreement highlights EIF and Erste Bank Croatia’s shared goal of fostering business competitiveness, job creation, and economic resilience. The initiative specifically targets companies located in Croatia’s Just Transition and Cohesion Regions, ensuring balanced development and equal opportunities throughout the country.

Merete Clausen, Deputy Chief Executive of the EIF, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating that the EIF guarantees “enable Erste Bank Croatia to support business growth, digital transformation, sustainability, and Croatian creative industries.” She added that this cooperation reflects the institutions’ commitment to building a “more sustainable and competitive Croatian economy.”

Christoph Schoefboeck, CEO of Erste & Steiermärkische Bank d.d., highlighted the long-standing collaboration between the bank and the EIF, dating back to 2016. He noted that various guarantee instruments, including InnovFin, EaSi, EGF, and InvestEU, have enabled the realization of nearly 2,000 transactions with a total loan volume of €653 million. He also underscored the market’s positive response to the InvestEU Innovation and Digitalisation Guarantee, which supports enterprises focused on research, innovation, and digital transformation.

With this latest extension, the total EIF-guaranteed financing for innovative SMEs and small mid-caps through Erste Bank Croatia now stands at €305 million, expected to reach around 240 companies. The funding will continue to stimulate projects in innovation, sustainability, and the cultural and creative sectors, aligning with the EU’s broader goals of fostering competitiveness, green transformation, and inclusive growth.

The InvestEU guarantee, provided by the European Union, consolidates a range of EU financial instruments to support investments that drive innovation, employment, and sustainable growth across Europe. As part of the EIB Group, the EIF remains a key player in implementing these guarantees, enabling financial institutions to extend crucial support to enterprises shaping the EU’s future economy.

Background information

About EIF

The European Investment Fund (EIF) is part of the European Investment Bank Group. Its central mission is to support Europe’s micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by helping them to access finance. The EIF designs and develops venture and growth capital, guarantees and microfinance instruments which specifically target this market segment. In this role, the EIF fosters EU objectives in support of sustainability, innovation, research and development, entrepreneurship, growth and employment.

About Erste

Erste & Steiermärkische Bank d.d. (ESB) Erste&Steiermarkische Bank d.d. originates from the former strong regional banks – Riječka, Bjelovarska, Trgovačka and Čakovečka banka – and has been operating under this name since 1 August 2003. Today it is a modern bank, ranked No3 on the Croatian market by total assets, and a part of the international Erste Group, one of the leading financial service providers in CEE. What makes Erste Bank different is its employees, their approach to work, innovation, and care for the clients. The Bank has been posting great business results for years, continuously investing in digital development that facilitates innovation and creativity in customer service. By supporting the financial needs of the citizens and financing sound and profitable projects implemented by entrepreneurs and companies contributing to employment growth in the real sector, the Bank adequately supports the development of the entire economy

Press contacts

EIF

Tibor Jona | t.jona@eib.org | tel.: +352 691 287 052

Website: www.eib.org/press | Press Office: +352 4379 21000 | press@eib.org

SOURCE: European Investment Fund