Bankia will make €50 million available to Catalan companies via a lending facility guaranteed by the reciprocal guarantee company AVALIS de Catalunya SGR.
ICF and Avalis de Catalunya SGR have signed an agreement with Bankia to expand and facilitate access to funding for SMEs and self-employed workers in Catalonia.
The agreement was signed at the ICF's headquarters by the institute's CEO, Josep-Ramon Sanromà, the CEO of Avalis de Catalunya SGR, Josep Lores, the regional director of Bankia in Catalonia, Joaquim Saurina, and the director of Corporate Enterprise in Catalonia, Manel López.
The main goal is to contribute to the reactivation and growth of the Catalan economy.
As a result of the deal, Bankia will make €50 million available to Catalan companies and self-employed workers, via a lending facility to fund investment and working capital in preferential conditions.
Avalis — and also ICF — may guarantee the loans granted by Bankia via this facility. Companies can apply for these guarantees at Bankia branches.
Avalis de Catalunya SGR provides financial guarantees for enterprises vis-à-vis financial institutions, technical guarantees to the administration for public tenders or contracts, and economic guarantees for clients, suppliers and creditors to guarantee obligations and payments vis-à-vis third parties.
In 2014, it guaranteed 1,258 lending operations to 719 SMEs and self-employed workers for a total of €131 million, i.e. 66% more than in the previous year.