EIB Group, Santander Unlock $215M for Green Lending in Poland
- PLN 860 million ($215 million) in new financing unlocked for electric vehicles, solar and energy efficiency projects
- Structure doubles lending capacity via risk sharing, accelerating SME and household access to green credit
- Advances EU REPowerEU goals while deepening Europe’s securitisation market and capital efficiency
The European Investment Bank Group and Santander Consumer Bank have launched a new financing structure aimed at expanding access to green credit across Poland, unlocking PLN 860 million in fresh lending for small businesses and households investing in clean technologies.
The agreement uses a synthetic securitisation mechanism to free up capital tied to existing consumer loans. That capital is then redeployed into new lending for electric vehicles, solar installations and energy efficiency upgrades. The EIB Group is committing PLN 429 million, enabling Santander Consumer Bank to double that amount in new green financing.
The initiative is aligned with the European Union’s REPowerEU strategy, which seeks to accelerate energy independence while lowering costs for businesses and consumers.
Financial Engineering Expands Lending Capacity
The transaction reflects a growing reliance on securitisation to scale climate finance without requiring direct public spending. By guaranteeing part of Santander’s existing loan portfolio, the EIB Group reduces the bank’s risk exposure, allowing it to extend additional credit under more favourable terms.
The European Investment Fund structured the deal, with the European Investment Bank acting as the ultimate risk bearer. The portfolio being supported totals PLN 3.9 billion and includes a mix of cash and hire-purchase loans.
“Securitisation is a smart way of generating more resources for shared European priorities, especially advancing the green agenda to support energy security and reduce costs for businesses and individuals. The latest geopolitical developments have only come to underline the importance of these efforts. The EIB Group’s new agreement with SCB is our second green synthetic securitisation in Poland, a great example of public-private partnership unlocking funds for environmentally sustainable investments by SMEs and households,” said EIF Chief Executive Marjut Falkstedt.
The structure includes safeguards such as excess spread to absorb initial losses, a two-year replenishment period allowing new loans to enter the portfolio, and performance-linked amortisation rules.
Private Capital Meets Policy Priorities
For Santander Consumer Bank, the agreement expands lending capacity while reinforcing its positioning in sustainable finance.“This project is another important step in our long-standing relationship with the EIB Group and a strong example of how we can efficiently deploy capital to support strategic priorities. As a result, we are able to increase substantially lending capacity for SMEs and retail customers, in financing green energy solutions. It reinforces our commitment to responsible banking by combining capital efficiency with tangible support for the real economy and the green transition in Poland,” said SCB’s CFO Paweł Muciek.
The deal marks the fourth securitisation collaboration between the parties, reflecting a maturing partnership that increasingly targets climate-aligned investments.
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Scaling Europe’s Securitisation Market
The transaction also forms part of a broader push by the EIB Group to deepen Europe’s securitisation market. In 2025 alone, the group signed €6 billion ($6.5 billion) worth of similar agreements, highlighting securitisation as a key tool for mobilising private capital at scale.
Recent deals include a €1 billion ($1.08 billion) transaction with ABN AMRO, which enabled €1.2 billion in new lending to Dutch businesses, and earlier Polish agreements supporting green investments and female entrepreneurship.
These structures are gaining traction as policymakers seek ways to bridge the gap between climate targets and available financing. By shifting risk and freeing bank balance sheets, securitisation allows capital to flow more efficiently into the real economy.
What Executives and Investors Should Watch
For financial institutions, the deal demonstrates how capital efficiency strategies can directly support ESG objectives without compromising returns. For policymakers, it highlights the role of public-private partnerships in accelerating climate investment pipelines.
The broader implication is clear. Europe’s transition to clean energy will rely as much on financial innovation as on technological advancement. As geopolitical pressures reshape energy priorities, mechanisms that rapidly scale funding for households and SMEs are becoming central to the region’s economic strategy.
In Poland, where energy transition remains both urgent and capital-intensive, the EIB-Santander model offers a replicable pathway. If expanded, it could significantly influence how green finance is deployed across emerging European markets.
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