ProCredit Bank introduces green finance for businesses in order to help entrepreneurs to increase competitiveness and lower energy costs.

ProCredit Bank, a development-oriented bank, proudly announces the launch of EcoCredit – a loan for business entrepreneurs designed to improve energy efficiency, increase competitiveness and positively impact the environment. A responsible approach towards the environment has always been an integral part of the activity of ProCredit Bank. By focusing on green finance we aim to promote economic development that is environmentally sustainable.

EcoCredit can be used to finance investments for the following purposes:

• Energy efficiency: measures which will help businesses to maintain the same level of productivity (output) using less energy, or increasing productivity without consuming more energy.
• Renewable energy: investments in exploiting resources that are naturally replenished and practically inexhaustible (e.g. wind energy, sunlight, biomass, etc.). Such resources are available in nearly unlimited quantities and their use does not pollute the environment.
• Environmentally friendly: investments which make a direct positive contribution to protecting the environment (e.g. organic agriculture, implementation of clean air and water projects, consulting and planning services to reduce environmental pollution, etc.

EcoCredit can bring many benefits for improving the business performance:

• Competitive advantage by using modern, energy-efficient machinery and equipment
• Reduce energy costs as a result of lower energy consumption
• Greater efficiency and lower costs due to optimisation and automation of operating processes
• Healthier working environment
• More efficient resource management
• Higher return on investment
• Independence, longer-term planning and more flexibility
• Enhanced image, positioning as a company that values quality and cares about the environment

All of the banks in the ProCredit group, including ProCredit Bank Moldova, have set themselves high standards regarding the impact of their operations on the environment. We thoroughly asses each client’s investment according to environmental criteria, and conduct an in-depth analysis of all economic activities which could potentially involve environmental risks. Our aim is to reduce the negative impact of business activities on the environment.

We strongly believe that to achieve long-term results for environment protection we first need to change our mindset. Internally, a lot of effort is put into reducing the environmental impact of the institution. The bank closely monitors and analyses the consumption of energy, office materials and other resources during its operations and takes measures to reduce this consumption and use resources efficiently through raising staff awareness, improving behaviour and investing in equipment and renovation of offices taking energy efficiency criteria into consideration at all times. Moreover, the bank actively participates in several community initiatives to support environmental protection and to help inform the general public about the importance and benefits of using energy-efficient equipment and renewable energy sources.

“At ProCredit Bank we strive to provide banking services to businesses that make a sustainable contribution to both the environment and the national economy. Our new service for businesses, EcoCredit, will bring a range of benefits to entrepreneurs, such as competitive advantages in the market, reduced operational costs and increased productivity, use of more efficient technologies and processes and, at the same time, protecting the environment and using natural resources more responsibly. We are strongly committed to promoting green finance in Moldova and by the end of 2015, the bank is determined to achieve a portfolio of Eco loans totalling USD 25 million, which would represent 10% of the total loan portfolio”, concluded Eugenia Gashikulina, Deputy Chairperson of the Management Board.

The EcoCredit project was made possible with the technical support of the international consulting company IPC (Internationale Projekt Consult), which also provided training for the bank’s employees, enabling them to better assess the needs of clients, understand their investment plans and to suggest appropriate finance solutions.

ProCredit Bank. The bank you can count on.

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ProCredit Bank is an international bank with 100% foreign capital and with shareholders exclusively from Germany and the Netherlands: ProCredit Holding, Germany (85.82%); KfW, Germany (10.19%); and the DOEN Foundation, the Netherlands (3.99%). The bank is part of the international ProCredit group, which operates in 22 countries in Eastern Europe, Latin America as well as in Germany.

ProCredit Bank is a stable institution dedicated to the long-lasting development of very small, small and medium-sized enterprises. We aim to play a role in the development of these enterprises by investing the time to truly understand their needs and by providing banking services which are tailored to the specifics of our clients’ businesses.

ProCredit Bank offers a wide range of secure, simple and accessible banking services. We believe that saving is essential for a stable future, which is why we pay special attention to fostering and developing a savings culture among our clients.

ProCredit Bank aims to set new quality standards for its services. Furthermore, by offering these services in a transparent and open manner, we are contributing to the public’s growing trust in banks.

For additional information, please contact the bank’s PR Specialist: Eliza Frunza. Telephone: 022-836-431, e-mail: e.frunza@procreditbank.md

© ProCredit Bank, 14 November 2013. All rights reserved.