NIB and Säästöpankki Optia start new facility for Finnish SMEs

NIB and the Finnish savings bank Säästöpankki Optia are launching a new EUR 20 million loan programme for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and environmental projects in Finland.

The main target of the new loan programme is SME investments in R&D, tangible capital (e.g. machinery and equipment) or ICT, which will allow the borrowers to increase production capacity. Potential environmental projects include investments in wind energy farms, improving energy efficiency in buildings and investments in agricultural facilities to decrease nutrient discharges into water.

“This is our second loan programme with Säästöpankki Optia. Cooperation between our banks serves its purpose, as it improves SMEs’ access to financing and supports productivity growth in the SME sector—the backbone of economy in NIB’s member countries”, says Henrik Normann, NIB President & CEO.

“This new loan agreement between Optia and NIB gives us more opportunities to offer our corporate customers financial solutions that promote growth and profitability. Small and medium-sized enterprises play a significant role in strengthening the vitality of our country today and in the future. We want to be part in this development in cooperation with NIB”, says Mikko Paananen, CEO of Säästöpankki Optia.

Säästöpankki Optia has approximately 70,000 clients, of which 18% are SMEs. Optia finances projects within sectors including wind energy, bioenergy, agriculture and forestry, and infrastructure. Optia ranks as the largest (by total assets) of the 25 savings banks in the Finnish Savings Banks Group. Optia operates from its headquarters in the town of Iisalmi in the eastern part of the country, where it was established in 1883. It has 17 offices located in northern, eastern and central Finland.

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

Mr Dimitrijs Alehins, Senior Communications Specialist, at +358 10 618 0296,