QUITO — IDB Invest will provide Banco Internacional S.A. with financing of up to $100 million to expand access to credit for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ecuador. The transaction seeks to strengthen the availability of funding for SMEs, a segment that plays an important role in business activity and formal employment in the country.

The financing consists of a syndicated loan comprising up to $50 million financed by IDB Invest; up to $25 million from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through its JICA Trust Fund for Latin America and the Caribbean Development (TADAC); and up to $25 million expected to be mobilized from participating investors.

As part of this partnership, IDB Invest will provide specialized technical assistance in digital transformation to Banco Internacional to strengthen and automate the qualitative assessment of its SME lending process through the adoption of advanced digital tools and artificial intelligence capabilities.

“Financial institutions play a fundamental role in accelerating business productivity and competitiveness. Through this partnership with Banco Internacional, we aim not only to expand access to financing but also to support the bank in its digital transformation journey, strengthening its ability to better serve its clients and contribute to the country’s development,” said Gabriela Mera, Head of the Financial Institutions Division for the Andean Countries at IDB Invest.

“At Banco Internacional, we understand that innovation is a key enabler of business development. Through this partnership with IDB Invest, we will strengthen our digital capabilities and the application of artificial intelligence in credit processes, allowing us to offer a better customer experience, greater agility, and more timely access to financing for Ecuadorian SMEs,” said Svitlana Zaruzhko, Vice President of Digital Transformation and Innovation at Banco Internacional. This initiative will help optimize the efficiency, agility, and consistency of credit assessments, reinforcing the bank’s ability to meet the financing needs of SMEs in Ecuador in a timely and scalable manner.

This transaction is aligned with IDB Invest’s strategic priorities to drive development through the private sector in Latin America and the Caribbean. By expanding access to financing for SMEs, promoting innovation and digital transformation, and mobilizing resources toward productive sectors, the operation will help strengthen competitiveness, boost productivity, and create new opportunities for sustainable growth in Ecuador.

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 400 clients in 25 countries, IDB Invest provides innovative financial solutions and advisory services that meet the needs of its clients across a variety of sectors. Visit our website: www.idbinvest.org

About Banco Internacional

Banco Internacional was founded in Quito in 1973 and has more than 1,300 employees committed to serving customers throughout Ecuador. It is recognized as a leading bank in efficiency, with a strategic focus on small, medium-sized, and large companies, as well as middle- and high-income individuals. The bank operates 71 branches across 17 provinces in the Andean, Coastal, and Amazon regions and maintains a network of more than 350 ATMs to ensure broad access to its services. As part of its long-term vision, Banco Internacional promotes sustainability initiatives that contribute to the country’s responsible development, encouraging business practices that generate economic, social, and environmental value. The bank has also been recognized for three consecutive years as the best place to work in Ecuador by Great Place to Work (GPTW), reflecting its commitment to the well-being, development, and growth of its employees.

About the TADAC Fund
 

The JICA Trust Fund for Latin America and the Caribbean Development (TADAC) is a fund administered by the IDB Group and established in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to promote sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean. Through an initial contribution of $1.5 billion, the fund aims to catalyze private investment through the co-financing of strategic projects. TADAC is JICA’s first fund with the IDB Group dedicated to the private sector and the largest of its kind in the region, reinforcing IDB Invest’s Originate-to-Share business model.