Hrvatski
Entrepreneurs planning investments in business digitalisation now have access to a new financing opportunity. Since 1 July 2026, the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR) has been implementing the “Digital Transition Investment Programme”, financed through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP).
The programme is intended to finance strategic digital projects that contribute to business modernisation, the introduction of new digital technologies, and increased competitiveness of business entities. It enables beneficiaries to finance investments under favourable interest rate conditions, including the possibility of receiving interest rate subsidies.
Who can use the HBOR Digital Transition Loan?
Eligible loan beneficiaries include:
- companies, sole proprietors, and other private sector business entities, regardless of their size and legal form;
- local and regional self-government units carrying out economic activities;
- companies, institutions, and agencies owned or majority-owned by the Republic of Croatia or local and regional self-government units that perform economic activities.
All applicants must have their registered headquarters in the Republic of Croatia.
The programme is not intended for entities considered undertakings in difficulty under European Union rules.
Which digitalisation investments can be financed?
The programme supports investments in tangible and intangible assets required for the implementation of strategic digital projects.
Eligible investments include projects related to intervention areas assigned a 100% digital coefficient according to Annex VII of Regulation (EU) 2021/241.
Examples of eligible investments include:
- development and implementation of digital business solutions;
- procurement and development of software;
- introduction of digital platforms and information systems;
- automation of business processes;
- development of advanced technological solutions;
- investments in digital infrastructure;
- other investments contributing to the digital transformation of business operations.
In addition to investments in fixed assets, the programme also allows financing of working capital up to 30% of the contracted loan amount, provided that it is related to the implementation of the digital project.
All investments must comply with relevant European Union and Croatian legislation and meet the Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) principle.
What loan amount can be obtained?
The minimum loan amount depends on the financing model:
- for direct HBOR loans, loans below EUR 100,000 are generally not approved;
- for financing through commercial banks, loans below EUR 50,000 are generally not approved;
- under the risk-sharing model with a commercial bank, HBOR’s share of the loan generally cannot be lower than EUR 100,000.
There is no predefined maximum loan amount. The approved amount depends on:
- the value of the investment;
- the beneficiary’s creditworthiness;
- the purpose and structure of the project;
- HBOR’s available funding sources.
Depending on State aid rules, financing of up to 75%, 85%, or 100% of the eligible investment value excluding VAT may be available.
Direct HBOR loans
For private sector business entities:
- loans up to EUR 400,000 are subject to a fixed annual interest rate of 2.00%;
- for loans exceeding EUR 400,000, HBOR determines the interest rate for each individual project, with the possibility of an interest rate subsidy reducing the final interest rate to a minimum of 1.50% per annum.
For public sector entities, a fixed annual interest rate of 1.50% applies.
Loans through commercial banks
For loans provided through commercial banks, the interest rate is determined by the bank and may amount to a maximum of 3.50% annually (fixed).
In addition, beneficiaries may qualify for interest rate subsidies depending on the type of investment and the category of beneficiary.
The maximum interest rate subsidy generally amounts to EUR 1,000,000, while for large strategic projects it may reach up to EUR 2,000,000, depending on the programme conditions.
Financing models
The programme enables several financing models:
- direct financing through HBOR;
- financing in cooperation with commercial banks;
- risk-sharing model with a commercial bank.
For financing through a commercial bank, the beneficiary submits the application and required documentation to the bank, while for direct HBOR loans, the documentation is submitted directly to HBOR.
Repayment period and loan utilisation
The loan may be approved with a repayment period of up to 20 years, including a grace period of up to three years.
The loan utilisation period generally lasts up to 12 months, depending on the purpose and implementation schedule of the investment, with the possibility of approval of a longer period where justified by the project.
Funds may be used:
- as a one-time payment;
- successively, according to the investment implementation schedule.
Disbursement is generally made to suppliers, contractors, or other service providers, based on documentation proving the intended use of funds.
The portion of the loan intended for financing working capital may be paid directly to the beneficiary, subject to subsequent proof of the purpose of use.
Collateral
Collateral requirements depend on the financing model:
- for financing through commercial banks, collateral is determined by the commercial bank;
- under the risk-sharing model, collateral is determined by HBOR and the commercial bank;
- for direct HBOR loans, HBOR determines collateral requirements based on the risk assessment of the project and the beneficiary.
Possible collateral instruments include:
- promissory notes and bills of exchange;
- pledges over assets;
- insurance policies assigned in favour of HBOR;
- bank guarantees;
- guarantees issued by HAMAG-BICRO;
- other collateral instruments commonly used in banking practice.
Why is this programme important?
Digital transformation is becoming an important part of business development across almost all economic sectors. Investments in digital technologies, process automation, information systems, and new digital solutions enable companies to modernise their operations and adapt to the requirements of the contemporary market.
The HBOR “Digital Transition Investment Programme” provides an opportunity to finance such projects with long repayment periods and favourable lending conditions.
Planning to digitalise your business?
If you are preparing a digital transformation project, it is important to assess the eligibility of your investment and prepare the required documentation in a timely manner.
At Sensum, we provide support in project assessment, documentation preparation, and advisory services throughout the financing process, helping you determine whether the HBOR programme matches your development plans.
For more information, contact us!