The European Investment Fund (EIF), part of the European Investment Bank Group, has signed a new guarantee agreement with LABORAL Kutxa to expand access to microloans and social loans. Backed by the InvestEU program, the agreement will allow the MONDRAGON credit cooperative to allocate up to €150 million in financing, supporting more than 7,000 micro‑enterprises and social enterprises.
Through the EIF guarantee, LABORAL Kutxa will provide loans of up to €2 million for social enterprises and microloans of up to €50,000, offering favorable terms to promote job creation and consolidation in this dynamic sector. This marks the second agreement between EIF and LABORAL Kutxa under InvestEU, following one signed in 2023, and strengthens their long‑term collaboration in supporting small entrepreneurs and social enterprises.
The EIB Group, as the EU’s financing arm, continues to play a central role in mobilizing investment for strategic priorities, with the EIF specializing in guarantees and equity to improve access to finance for SMEs and startups. Initiatives such as the European Tech Champions Initiative have already scaled up dozens of innovative companies, including unicorns, by mobilizing venture capital funds.
LABORAL Kutxa, with more than 65 years of history, operates as a cooperative bank serving over 1.1 million families and businesses across northern Spain. Its business model is based on wage solidarity and worker participation, with strong financial indicators including a Tier 1 capital ratio of 26.22% and a consolidated net profit of €305 million in 2025.
This new agreement highlights the role of InvestEU in leveraging EU budget guarantees to mobilize private investment, while reinforcing LABORAL Kutxa’s mission to provide inclusive financial services that strengthen entrepreneurship and social impact across Spain.
