SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras — IDB Invest has provided financing of up to $240 million to Banpaís in Honduras to expand access to credit for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), a key segment for job creation and economic growth in the country.

SMEs account for approximately 70% of employment in Honduras and generate nearly half of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). The transaction will expand financing for these businesses and support women-led enterprises, strengthening their participation in the country's economic activity.

“SMEs are essential to growth and job creation in Honduras, yet they still face significant barriers to accessing financing. This transaction demonstrates how, by working alongside the private sector, we can mobilize additional resources and expand access to credit, particularly for women-led SMEs, thereby fostering investment, job creation, and new opportunities in the country,” said Eric Parrado, Chief Country Division Officer for Central America, Mexico, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti at IDB Invest.

For her part, María del Rosario Selman-Housein, Chief Executive Officer of Banpaís, said: “This partnership has a meaning that goes beyond financing. It represents confidence in Honduran entrepreneurial talent and in the ability of our companies to continue growing and transforming the country.” She added: “We thank IDB Invest for its trust and for sharing our vision for development.”

The transaction consists of an unsecured senior A/B loan of up to $240 million with a tenor of up to five years. IDB Invest’s participation will include a committed tranche of up to $50 million and an uncommitted tranche of up to $50 million. In addition, approximately $140 million is expected to be mobilized from participating investors.

This structure reflects IDB Invest’s “Originate-to-Share” business model, through which the institution mobilizes resources from other investors to expand the reach of its operations and channel additional financing to the private sector in the region.

The transaction also includes a blended finance component of up to $350,000 provided by the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi). These resources aim to expand access to credit for women-led SMEs and will be disbursed through an incentive-based mechanism designed to encourage the achievement of financing targets. This component will also help advance Banpaís’ strategy focused on women entrepreneurs through specialized advisory services provided by IDB Invest. 

As part of the project, IDB Invest will provide technical support to strengthen Banpaís’ capabilities in serving strategic market segments, including the development of specialized value propositions and the enhancement of institutional capacities. The operation also includes measures to reinforce the bank’s practices and actions aimed at strengthening its corporate governance in line with international standards. 

About IDB Invest

IDB Invest, a member of the IDB Group, is a multilateral development bank committed to promoting the economic development of its member countries in Latin America and the Caribbean through the private sector. IDB Invest finances sustainable companies and projects to achieve financial results and maximize economic, social, and environmental development in the region. With a portfolio of $22 billion in assets under management and more than 440 clients in 25 countries, IDB Invest provides innovative financial solutions and advisory services that meet the needs of its clients in a variety of industries. Visit our website: www.idbinvest.org/en.

About Banpaís

Banpaís is among the leading financial institutions in Honduras, ranking fourth by loan portfolio size. It has extensive nationwide coverage through 185 service points, 273 ATMs, and 4,267 banking agents. As of June 2026, the institution had public deposits exceeding $3.283 billion, a net loan portfolio of $3.420 billion, and total assets of $4.841 billion, representing a 12.42% market share in net lending. Its SME portfolio amounts to $520 million, reaffirming its role in financing Honduras’ productive and business sectors. Visit our website: Banco del País - Banpais.

About the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi)

The Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) is a collaborative partnership among 14 governments, eight multilateral development banks (MDBs), and other public and private sector stakeholders, hosted by the World Bank Group. It seeks to address the financial and non-financial constraints faced by women-owned and women-led small and medium-sized enterprises in developing countries.