EBRD and UniCredit Bank Banja Luka support energy-efficient businesses and buildings

• Financing combines SME Go Green and GEFF facilities
• EU-backed programmes will support green investments in SMEs and the residential sector
• EU-funded cashback incentives up to 15% available for eligible SME and residential sector investments

Businesses and housing developers in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be able to benefit from a new €9 million financing package for energy-efficient equipment, renewable energy and greener residential buildings.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing the funds to UniCredit Bank Banja Luka, which will lend the money to eligible businesses.

Of the total, €5 million will be available to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) investing in energy-efficient and renewable-energy technologies. The funding is being provided under the SME Go Green programme. On successful completion, SMEs will be able to benefit from cashback incentives funded by the European Union (EU).

A further €4 million, through the Western Balkans Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF)*, will support investment in high-performance residential buildings and energy-efficiency and renewable energy measures in the residential sector. The programme aims to encourage more energy-efficient construction and lower-carbon building solutions to help households to benefit from lower energy consumption and reduced energy costs.

Stela Melnic, EBRD Head of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said: “Reducing energy use in businesses and homes is part of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s transition to a lower-carbon economy. These loans will finance more efficient equipment, renewable energy and improvements to residential buildings, helping borrowers reduce their energy consumption and associated emissions.”

Spas Vidarkinsky, CEO of UniCredit Bank Banja Luka, said: “At UniCredit, supporting the green transition means creating tangible benefits for our clients, communities and the wider economy. Through this partnership with the EBRD, we are providing businesses and residential developers with greater access to financing for investments that improve energy efficiency, accelerate the adoption of renewable energy and strengthen long-term competitiveness. As a bank committed to sustainable finance, we are proud to support Bosnia and Herzegovina’s journey towards a more resilient and lower-carbon future.“

This financing further strengthens UniCredit Bank Banja Luka’s commitment to supporting the green transition of the domestic economy and promoting sustainable business models across all client segments.

UniCredit Bank Banja Luka, first bank on Republic of Srpska market to offer EBRD lines SME Go Green and GEFF, is one of the leading banks in Republic of Srpska and part of UniCredit Group, one of Europe’s leading banking groups. Through its comprehensive range of retail and corporate banking services, the Bank actively supports sustainable growth, innovation and the transition towards a greener economy.

The agreement reflects the long-standing cooperation between EBRD and UniCredit Bank Banja Luka in advancing sustainable finance and supporting investments that generate positive environmental and economic impact.

The EBRD has invested more than €3.4 billion in Bosnia and Herzegovina to date, with a strong focus on supporting private-sector competitiveness, green transition and sustainable infrastructure development.

*The EBRD’s GEFF programme in the Western Balkans is co-funded by the EU through the Western Balkans Investment Framework, Austria, Denmark, Japan, and Austria and Switzerland through the High-Impact Partnership on Climate Action (HIPCA)**.

**The EBRD’s HIPCA is supported by Austria, Canada, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Switzerland, TaiwanICDF, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.