The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced a new portfolio risk-sharing facility of up to €25 million for maib, Moldova’s largest bank. The initiative is expected to unlock up to €50 million in new financing for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), strengthening access to credit across the country.
The agreement was signed during the EU-Moldova Investment Conference in Chisinau and builds on a successful risk-sharing transaction launched between the two institutions in 2024. The new facility will help maib expand lending capacity while efficiently managing capital requirements under evolving banking regulations.
Supported by first-loss risk coverage from the European Union’s European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+), the programme enables the EBRD to share credit risk on newly issued MSME loans. This approach frees up capital for maib, allowing the bank to increase lending without impacting its regulatory capital position.
The financing is expected to improve access to funding for underserved businesses, including women-led and youth-led enterprises, as well as companies operating outside the capital region. The facility will also enhance the bank’s resilience by diversifying its loan portfolio and reducing exposure to credit risk.
Maib and the EBRD have maintained a strong partnership since 1995, collaborating on trade finance, credit lines and investment initiatives. The new agreement supports the EBRD’s strategy for Moldova and its broader goal of fostering a more inclusive, competitive and resilient financial sector.
Over the past three decades, the EBRD has invested more than €3 billion across 199 projects in Moldova, supporting economic development, private-sector growth and financial sector stability.
