InvestEU: EIF and Finbee Verslui join forces to provide up to €19 million in new loans for businesses in Lithuania

• Up to 800 businesses will benefit from financing agreement.
• Most of the loans will be targeted at micro-enterprises experiencing difficulties in accessing credit.
• The agreement is supported by the InvestEU programme, which aims to trigger more than €372 billion in additional investments over the period 2021-2027.

The European Investment Fund (EIF) and crowdfunding platform Finbee Verslui have signed a portfolio guarantee agreement under the InvestEU programme to provide up to €19 million in new loans for businesses in Lithuania, mainly to micro-enterprises experiencing difficulties accessing credit. Finbee Verslui is a Lithuanian fintech offering efficient online-based financing solutions to small businesses, which are often overlooked by mainstream banks.

Micro-enterprises with fewer than ten employees and annual income below €2 million will be able to borrow up to €50 000. Loans will be provided for both investments and working capital. Such companies will not be asked to pledge any assets as collateral. Moreover, small and medium-sized companies aiming to reduce their CO₂ emissions, such as with investments in renewable energy, electric cars or sustainability, will be able to borrow up to €1 million. 

"Cooperation with the European Investment Fund is extremely important for us to purposefully pursue Finbee Verslui’s remit to enable Lithuanian small businesses to grow,” said Tomas Mačiulaitis, Head of Finbee Verslui. “The availability of financing for such businesses remains a sensitive issue and instruments such as this help to solve it step by step. With this guarantee, we will be able to provide financing to an even wider circle of customers, and we will also offer more favourable loan conditions and lower pricing."

EIF Chief Executive Marjut Falkstedt said Finbee Verslui has a strong track record in supporting micro companies via its crowdlending platform: “Accessing credit is a big issue today, and thanks to the new agreement, Finbee will be able to further support a green and sustainable transformation of the economy by facilitating businesses’ uptake of environmentally-friendly, green and inclusive investments in Lithuania.”

This is not the first agreement between the crowdfunding platform and the EIF. In March 2023, Finbee Verslui and the EIF signed a senior loan agreement to provide €1 million in loans to micro-enterprises under the EU Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) Programme. The financing reached Lithuanian companies within three months.

Background information

About Finbee Verslui

Finbee Verslui is an alternative lender whose remit is to serve small businesses by bridging the finance gap for SMEs, which are the backbone of the economy. With a focus on excellent customer service and flexible solutions, Finbee Verslui has become a trusted source of financing for small businesses. To date, the company has delivered over 3 000 loans to more than 2 000 small businesses. As an alternative lender, Finbee Verslui is committed to providing solutions that traditional banks cannot offer, including faster and easier access to funds. With a dedication to helping small businesses thrive, Finbee Verslui is a valuable partner for entrepreneurs looking to grow their businesses.

About the EIF

The European Investment Fund (EIF) is part of the European Investment Bank Group. Its central mission is to support Europe's micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by helping them to access finance. The EIF designs and develops venture and growth capital, guarantees and microfinance instruments that specifically target this market segment. In this role, the EIF fosters EU objectives in support of innovation, research and development, entrepreneurship, growth and employment.

About the InvestEU programme

The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with crucial long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable recovery. It also helps mobilise private investments for the European Union’s policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. The InvestEU programme brings together under one roof the multitude of EU financial instruments currently available to support investment in the European Union, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible. The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is implemented through financial partners that will invest in projects using the EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion. The entire budget guarantee will back the investment projects of the implementing partners, increase their risk-bearing capacity and thus mobilise at least €372 billion in additional investment.

Press contacts

EIB Group
Kristiina Randmaa, tel.: +352 4379 72894; k.randmaa@ext.eib.org
Follow us on Twitter@eif_eu
Website: www.eif.org; Press Office: +352 4379 21000 — press@eib.org

Finbee Verslui
Giedrė Leminskienė, giedre@finbee.com, tel.: +37061417085
Website: www.finbeeverslui.lt