Question 1

What is the Sovereign Guarantee and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

The state guarantees a portion of the loan principal (up to 70%) to the bank. If the business can't repay, the state covers the guaranteed portion. This lowers bank risk and enables better lending terms for SMEs.

Question 2

Is additional collateral required beyond the sovereign guarantee?

Accepted Answer

The bank is entitled to require collateral only for the 30% portion not covered by the sovereign guarantee (the state), and only after assessing the risk of the file submitted by the business. For the 70% portion guaranteed by the state, the bank cannot ask you for any collateral. The value of the collateral for your own portion (30%) is capped by law and cannot exceed the maximum coverage ceiling. To find out what that ceiling is and whether additional security will be required, speak to your loan officer.

Question 3

How long does the approval process take?

Accepted Answer

Typically 15–30 working days after full documentation is submitted. (This is an indicative estimate — confirm the exact timeline with your chosen bank.)

Question 4

Can I apply at more than one bank?

Accepted Answer

Yes, businesses can compare offers from different banks, but the final loan is approved by a single bank. The maximum value covered under the programme is up to approximately 200 million lekë per applicant.

Question 5

What is the grace period?

Accepted Answer

The grace period (interest-only, no principal) is a minimum of 12 months from disbursement, per the Council of Ministers Decision. This gives you time to invest without an immediate repayment burden.

Question 6

What investments are not covered?

Accepted Answer

Not covered: refinancing of existing loans and plain working-capital/raw-material purchases unrelated to an investment. An exception applies when the raw material is an integral part of a technology project.

Question 7

Is free technical assistance available?

Accepted Answer

Yes — the state grant-funds technical assistance from experts to help draft the business plan and prepare the application documentation, so businesses have a strong investment proposal before submitting it to the bank.

Question 8

Until when can I apply?

Accepted Answer

The application deadline under the Council of Ministers Decision is 20 November 2027. Businesses are encouraged to apply early, as the total fund of approximately €250 million is allocated on a rolling basis.

Preferential-interest financing, backed by the Sovereign Guarantee of the Albanian Government

How it works

Identification

Expression of interest

Assessment

Priority Sectors

Agriculture & Agro-processing

Manufacturing (Textiles, Apparel, Footwear, Wood, Metal)

ICT & Software

Tourism & Accommodation

Trade & Logistics

Financing Products

Machinery & Production Modernization

Digitalization (ERP & Cybersecurity)

Standards & Export Certifications (ISO, HACCP, CE)

Energy Efficiency & Green

Am I eligible?

Is your business registered as a legal entity in Albania?

Financing Calculator

Partner Banks

Banka Raiffeisen sh.a.

Banka e Bashkuar e Shqipërisë sh.a.

Banka Kombëtare Tregtare sh.a. (BKT)

Banka Tirana sh.a.

Banka Intesa Sanpaolo Albania sh.a.

Banka Procredit sh.a.

Banka Amerikane e Investimeve sh.a.

Banka e Parë e Investimeve Albania sh.a.

Banka Credins sh.a.

Banka OTP Albania sh.a.

Banka Union sh.a.

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