Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme 

More information about who the Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme is suitable for.

• Who can apply?
  To apply for a Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme loan customers must be a viable small or medium sized enterprise (SME), Small Mid-Cap enterprise or Primary Producers (including farmers, fisheries and aquaculture).

   

  An SME is defined by the Standard EU definition [Commission Regulation 2003/361/EC] as an enterprise that:

  • has fewer than 250 employees
  • has a turnover of €50 million or less (or €43 million or less on their balance sheet)
  • is independent and autonomous that is, not part of a wider group of enterprises
  • has less than 25% of their capital held by public bodies

  
  A Small Mid-Cap is an enterprise that is not an SME but has fewer than 500 employees.

   

  A Primary Producer is a person who is engaged in the production, rearing or growing of primary products including harvesting, milking and farmed animal production prior to slaughter. It also includes hunting and fishing and the harvesting of wild products.

   

  In addition, in order to be eligible for the Scheme, the business must be both established and operating in the Republic of Ireland.

   

• How to apply
  Step 1 - First, apply for a SBCI Eligibility Code from the SBCI through their online Hub which can be accessed here.

   

  Step 2 – Once you have received your SBCI Eligibility Code from the SBCI, you can fill out our SBCI Lending Scheme Online Enquiry Form.
  
  Please note: Under Scheme rules we may need to cease taking applications without notice from certain sectors, for certain loan purposes or if we meet our allocation under the Scheme. Please note that eligibility confirmation from SBCI is not a guarantee of loan approval and no application is guaranteed until it is approved by AIB.
• Excluded and Restricted Sectors
  Under Scheme rules, customers in some sectors are excluded from applying.

   

  Some of the excluded sectors are listed below, see full list of Excluded and Restricted Sectors here.

   

  MINING AND QUARRYING

  Extraction of natural gas

  Support activities for petroleum and natural gas extraction

   

  MANUFACTURING

  Manufacture of tobacco products

  Manufacture of weapons and ammunition

   

  REAL ESTATE ACTIVITIES

  Buying and selling of own real estate

   

  ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND RECREATION

   Gambling and betting activities

   

• State Aid

  The Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme operates under the following State aid measures:

  De Minimis Regulation

  • Small Mid-Caps
  • SMEs borrowing funds for climate action and environmental sustainability measures

  
  Article 17 of the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER)

  • ·SMEs borrowing funds to invest in growth and resilience measures

  
  Article 29 of the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER)

  • SMEs in the fishery and aquaculture sector implementing process and organisational innovation projects

  
  Article 14 of the Agriculture Block Exemption Regulation (ABER)

  • SMEs active in the primary production of agricultural products

  
  Article 17of the Agriculture Block Exemption Regulation (ABER)

  • SMEs active in the processing of agricultural products and the marketing of agricultural products
• Who cannot apply
  Customers:

  • Applying to refinance existing debt.
  • Applying to finance pure real estate development activity.
  • Applying to finance land or property purchases, including agricultural land.
  • Applying to support the purchase of livestock.
  • In financial difficulty.
  • That are bankrupt or being wound up or having its affairs administered by the courts.
  • That have a substantial focus in any of the Excluded or Restricted Sectors
  • That are subject to sanctions or engaged in illegal activities.

  
  Other exclusions might apply depending on the applicable State aid Regulation under which the loan is granted.