The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has provided Crédit Agricole Bank with a new guarantee that will allow the financial institution to extend up to €150 million in loans to Ukrainian businesses, with risk coverage of up to 80%. The partnership aims to support enterprises in critical sectors, as well as small, medium, and mid-cap companies investing in energy production and storage, energy efficiency improvements, and modernization.
Carlos de Cordo, Chairman of the Bank’s Management Board, noted that the collaboration with the EBRD is built on a shared commitment to strengthening economic resilience and supporting recovery — fully aligned with the bank’s AIR strategy (“Aim is to Invest in Recovery”).
The project is structured across three components:
• support for resilience and livelihoods,
• an energy security enhancement mechanism,
• the EU4Business–EBRD credit line, which is complemented by investment incentives.
The largest portion — up to €80 million — will be directed toward working capital and investment needs of private businesses in key sectors.
Another €40 million is intended to support the development of energy generation, energy storage systems, and energy-efficiency improvements. The remaining €30 million will be allocated to modernizing small and medium-sized enterprises in line with EU standards, with a significant share directed toward green projects. The program also includes technical assistance and post-investment grants.
Eligible businesses will be able to receive additional support from the EU through the EU4Business initiative, as well as dedicated grants for companies and households affected by destruction, asset loss, forced displacement, and for businesses contributing to the reintegration of veterans, persons with disabilities, and internally displaced people.
This is the third portfolio risk-sharing agreement between the EBRD and Crédit Agricole Bank since the start of the full-scale war. Previously, the EBRD channelled €75.4 million in EU grants to Ukrainian MSMEs under the EU4Business–EBRD program, with €2.25 million going to projects involving Crédit Agricole Bank.
Overall, since the beginning of the war, the EBRD has provided around €3.29 billion to Ukrainian borrowers through 40 agreements with 12 partner institutions, with lending programs supported by first-loss risk coverage financed by France and the EU under the Ukraine Investment Framework.
Crédit Agricole Bank, founded in 1993 and owned by Credit Agricole S.A., ranked 11th among 60 Ukrainian banks by total assets as of 1 October 2025.
