NIB and Liedon Säästöpankki open SME loan facility

NIB and Liedon Säästöpankki have agreed on a EUR 10 million loan programme aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and households in the south-western region of Finland.

Liedon Säästöpankki will on-lend funds from NIB to projects in the SME sector that improve productivity or the environment. Also housing cooperatives and households will be eligible for loans aimed at small scale environmental investments, such as enhancing energy efficiency or waste water treatment.

SME projects must involve investments in either machinery, equipment, production or service facilities. Investments in information and communications technology or software and investments in research and development are also eligible.

“SMEs account for the largest share of economic activity in our region and that is why we believe in improving their access to financing, while supporting projects that improve competitiveness and the environment,” says Henrik Normann, President and CEO of NIB.

Liedon Säästöpankki ranks the second largest, in terms of total assets, of the 30 savings banks in the Finnish Savings Banks Group. Liedon Säästöpankki was established in 1895 and has 12 offices located in the south-western part of Finland.

“Liedon Säästöpankki has in recent years significantly increased the role of corporate financing in its business operations. The loan programme between the Nordic Investment Bank and Liedon Säästöpankki is an important new tool for financing business loans and will contribute to the controlled growth of company and cooperative funding,” says Jussi Hakala, CEO of Liedon Säästöpankki.

NIB is an international financial institution owned by eight member countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden. The Bank finances private and public projects in and outside the member countries. NIB has the highest possible credit rating, AAA/Aaa, with the leading rating agencies Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s.

For further information, please contact

Nordic Investment Bank
Ms Taina Ulkoniemi, Senior Manager, Origination, at +358 10 618 0231,

Mr Arild Moen, Senior Communications Officer, at +358 10 618 0496,
arild.moen (at) nib.int

Liedon Säästöpankki
Jussi Hakala, CEO of Liedon Säästöpankki, at +358 50 564 4439,