HAMAG-BICRO loans 2026: open programmes, interest rates, principal write-off and guarantees

A HAMAG loan is a loan that HAMAG-BICRO (Croatian Agency for SMEs, Innovations and Investments) grants directly, without a bank as intermediary, to entrepreneurs, sole proprietorships (obrt), farmers and foster carers, in the open programmes at an interest rate of 0.1 to 0.5%, and in most programmes with the option of writing off part of the principal. HAMAG-BICRO is currently accepting applications for three loan programmes: the Micro Loan for Growth and Inclusion (Mikro zajam za rast i uključenost), from EUR 1,000 to 50,000 at 0.5% interest; SP ZPP Working Capital (Obrtna sredstva SP ZPP) for farmers and processors, up to EUR 25,000 at 0.50% interest; and Loans for Community Social Services (Zajmovi za socijalne usluge u zajednici) for foster carers, up to EUR 50,000 at 0.1% interest. From 28 October 2026 at 9:00, applications are also accepted for SP ZPP Loans for Growth of Agricultural Production (SP ZPP zajmovi za rast poljoprivredne proizvodnje) of up to EUR 150,000, at 0.10% interest and with a write-off of up to 45% of the principal. Small Loans for Women Entrepreneurs and Start-ups (Mali zajmovi za žene poduzetnice i poduzetnike početnike), Small Loans for Industrial Transition (Mali zajmovi za industrijsku tranziciju) and the National Loans (Nacionalni zajmovi) are temporarily closed. In addition to loans, HAMAG-BICRO provides guarantees for loans from banks and HBOR (Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development), as a rule for up to 80% of the principal.

This guide covers all HAMAG-BICRO loan and guarantee programmes, their status, conditions, how to apply and the most common mistakes. To find out which programme suits your investment, contact us. The information was checked on the HAMAG-BICRO website on 26 October 2026.

In brief: HAMAG-BICRO loans in 2026

• Open loans: Micro Loan for Growth and Inclusion, SP ZPP Working Capital and Loans for Community Social Services. Applications for SP ZPP Loans for Growth of Agricultural Production are accepted from 28 October 2026 at 9:00.
• Interest: from 0.1% to 0.5% per year, fixed for the entire repayment period.
• Principal write-off: up to 30% for the micro loan, up to 45% for the SP ZPP loan (young farmers up to 50%) and up to 50% for the foster carer loan, provided the programme conditions are met.
• Application: exclusively through the HAMAG-BICRO online system, and applications are accepted until the funds are used up.
• Guarantees: for loans from banks and HBOR. The ERDF Portfolio Guarantee (EFRR portfeljno jamstvo) covers up to 80% of the loan and no more than EUR 300,000 per guarantee, and for larger loans there are ERDF Individual Guarantees (EFRR pojedinačna jamstva) and the PLUS Guarantee (jamstvo PLUS).
• For larger amounts: HAMAG-BICRO loans amount to no more than EUR 150,000. Larger investments are financed with loans from HBOR or banks, with a HAMAG-BICRO guarantee if needed.

Which HAMAG-BICRO loans are open, as of 26 October 2026

Programme	Status	Amount	Interest	Repayment	Principal write-off
Micro Loan for Growth and Inclusion	open	EUR 1,000 to 50,000	base rate minus 2.5 percentage points, at least 0.5%	up to 5 years, grace period up to 1 year	up to 30%
SP ZPP Loans for Growth of Agricultural Production	applications from 28 October 2026 at 9:00	EUR 1,000 to 150,000	0.10%	up to 8 years (young farmers up to 10)	up to 45% (young farmers up to 50%)
SP ZPP Working Capital	open	EUR 1,000 to 25,000	0.50%	up to 3 years	none
Loans for Community Social Services (foster carers)	open	EUR 5,000 to 50,000	0.1%	up to 15 years	up to 50%
Small Loans for Industrial Transition	temporarily closed	EUR 25,001 to 100,000	0.5 to 1.5%	up to 10 years	up to 50%
Small Loans for Women Entrepreneurs and Start-ups	temporarily closed	EUR 25,001 to 100,000	0.5%	up to 10 years	up to 50%
National Loans for Investment (Nacionalni zajmovi za investicije)	temporarily closed	EUR 25,000.01 to 150,000	base rate plus 0.5 percentage points	up to 10 years	subsidy of 20 to 50% of the principal in local government units in development groups I to IV
National Loans for Working Capital (Nacionalni zajmovi za obrtna sredstva)	temporarily closed	EUR 1,000 to 50,000	base rate plus 1 percentage point	up to 3 years	subsidy of 20 to 50% of the principal in local government units in development groups I to IV

Also closed are the ERDF Small Loans (EFRR mali zajmovi) for investment and working capital, for which applications were accepted until 4 February 2025, and the investment loans from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NPOO), for which intake was suspended on 24 March 2026 at 9:45 because the funds had been used up. That example shows how quickly funds can be spent, so the documentation should be prepared before a programme opens.

Micro Loan for Growth and Inclusion: up to EUR 50,000

The micro loan is intended for young companies and sole proprietorships and for entrepreneurs from vulnerable groups. On 24 September 2026, HAMAG-BICRO announced that the maximum amount had been increased from EUR 25,000 to EUR 50,000. The loan is financed from the European Social Fund Plus.

• Who can apply: a micro or small entity that operates in Croatia, is majority-owned by natural persons and is no more than 3 years old, or whose majority owner is a person aged 18 to 29, a person aged 55 or over, a person with a disability or a person without completed secondary education. A person who is only just setting up a company or sole proprietorship can also apply. For a young company and for a founder, the owner must not hold more than 30% of the shares in another entity and must not have held such a share for more than 3 years in total.
• Amount and interest: from EUR 1,000 to 50,000. The interest rate is set on the day the application is received and is fixed for the entire repayment period. It equals the base rate for Croatia reduced by 2.5 percentage points, but cannot be lower than 0.5%. As long as the base rate is below 3%, the interest rate is 0.5%.
• Purpose: equipment, machinery and other tangible and intangible assets, and working capital up to 30% of the loan.
• Write-off: up to 30% of the principal drawn, with regular repayment and the additional employment of a person with a disability, a person aged 55 or over, a long-term unemployed person or a young person up to 29 years of age without work experience, on a permanent full-time contract, for at least 12 months.
• Not financed, among other things: agriculture, forestry and fishing, accommodation, transport and storage, financial and insurance activities, real estate activities, renting and leasing, and employment activities. Investments in real estate, product development, refinancing, pre-financing of grants and investments that have already been paid for are not financed either.
• Important: the majority owner must work full time in the company or sole proprietorship. Anyone in the first year of the self-employment aid from the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ) can apply for the loan only after that year.

You will find all the conditions and an eligibility check in the guide Micro Loans for Growth and Inclusion.

Loans for farmers: SP ZPP growth loan and working capital

For farmers, HAMAG-BICRO has two programmes under the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy, the CAP Strategic Plan (SP ZPP), co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Both are approved directly and applied for online.

SP ZPP Loans for Growth of Agricultural Production in Sensitive Sectors

• Applications: from Wednesday, 28 October 2026 at 9:00, until the funds are used up, and no later than 31 December 2029.
• Amount and conditions: from EUR 1,000 to 150,000, fixed interest of 0.10%, repayment period up to 8 years (young farmers up to 10), with a grace period of up to 12 months if repayment lasts at least 2 years, and no approval fee.
• Write-off: up to 45% of the principal drawn, and up to 50% for young farmers, depending on the criteria for each sector (e.g. an increase in the number of livestock or in milk deliveries). The write-off request is submitted once, no later than 18 months after the end of the drawdown period.
• Sectors: dairy cattle farming, young cattle fattening, suckler cows in beef cattle farming, sheep and goat farming (milk and meat), sow breeding, beekeeping with more than 100 hives, fruit growing (apple, pear, peach, nectarine, apricot, sweet cherry, sour cherry, plum, and strawberries grown under cover) and vegetable growing.
• What is financed: only the investments prescribed for each sector. In livestock farming these are buildings for keeping animals and their equipment, in beekeeping used goods vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers, and in fruit and vegetable growing protection against bad weather, irrigation and new polytunnels and greenhouses. Some sectors also have farm size limits, for example up to 35 sows.
• Who can apply: family farms (OPG), sole proprietorships, companies and other legal entities that are micro, small or medium-sized entities, are entered in the Farm Register (Upisnik poljoprivrednika) or another relevant register, and have been operating in the sector of the investment for at least 2 years. The investment must be outside the urban centres of Zagreb, Osijek, Rijeka and Split.
• Restrictions: working capital, refinancing and previously paid obligations are not financed, and the loan must not be combined with grants from EU funds for the same investment.

We describe the write-off criteria for each sector in the guide SP ZPP Loans for Growth of Agricultural Production, and for beekeepers in the guide Loan for beekeepers with principal write-off.

SP ZPP Working Capital

• For whom: micro, small and medium-sized entities in primary agricultural production and in the processing of agricultural products, outside the urban centres of Zagreb, Osijek, Rijeka and Split.
• Amount and conditions: from EUR 1,000 to 25,000, interest 0.50%, repayment period up to 3 years, with a grace period of up to 12 months if repayment lasts at least 2 years.
• Purpose: day-to-day operations, for example preparing production, raw materials and supplies, staff costs, rent and utilities.
• Funds for 2026: EUR 10 million for primary production and EUR 250,000 for processing. Applications are accepted until the funds for each type of investment are used up. For business development in rural areas, intake was suspended on 29 January 2026.

Loan for foster carers: community social services

A programme for foster carers of children and adults is also open. It is financed from the European Regional Development Fund, and natural persons who do not carry out a business activity can apply for the loan.

• Amount and conditions: from EUR 5,000 to 50,000, fixed interest of 0.1%, repayment period up to 15 years in monthly instalments, no grace period.
• Purpose: construction, extension and renovation of the home, equipment and furniture, adaptations for persons with disabilities, landscaping of the garden and energy efficiency. Vehicles, working capital and intangible assets are not eligible.
• Conditions: registered and active foster carer status, continuous care for at least one beneficiary for at least 6 months, ownership or co-ownership of the property by the foster carer or a family member, and an age of no more than 70 on the due date of the last instalment.
• Write-off: up to 50% of the principal drawn if the investment improves living conditions or increases accommodation capacity, with regular repayment. The request is submitted after half of the repayment period has passed.

Closed programmes: women entrepreneurs, start-ups and industrial transition

Three programmes with a principal write-off or subsidy are temporarily closed. By 26 October 2026, HAMAG-BICRO had not published a reopening date on the programme pages. It is still useful to know the conditions, because some programmes have already opened in several rounds, for example the NPOO investment loans in March 2026.

• Small Loans for Women Entrepreneurs and Start-ups: from EUR 25,001 to 100,000, interest 0.5%, repayment period up to 10 years. They are intended for companies and sole proprietorships younger than 3 years and for those in which women have held more than 50% of the shares for at least 2 years. Write-off of up to 50% of the principal, 10% for each newly employed person, or 15% if that person is a woman or a person up to 30 years of age. Trade and agriculture are not eligible. The programme is closed because the funds have been used up.
• Small Loans for Industrial Transition: from EUR 25,001 to 100,000, interest from 0.5 to 1.5% depending on the development level of the municipality or town, repayment period up to 10 years. For companies that have been operating for at least 3 years, with a registered office or branch in Pannonian, Northern or Adriatic Croatia, and are entered in the list of mapped stakeholders of regional value chains. Write-off of up to 50% of the principal with growth in value added per employee. HAMAG-BICRO temporarily suspended intake on 6 May 2026 because of the large number of applications, noting that the funds had not been fully used and that intake would reopen once the existing applications have been processed.
• National Loans for Investment and Working Capital: from EUR 25,000.01 to 150,000 for investment and from EUR 1,000 to 50,000 for working capital, with interest linked to the base rate. For beneficiaries in municipalities and towns in development index groups I to IV under the Demographic Revitalisation Programme (Program demografske revitalizacije), 20 to 50% of the principal drawn is subsidised.

While these programmes are closed, young companies and entrepreneurs from vulnerable groups can look into the micro loan, and women entrepreneurs, young people and start-ups can also look into HBOR’s programme for special segments, with loans of up to EUR 400,000. Read more in the guide HBOR loans for entrepreneurs 2026, and for all the options for young people, women and start-ups, including the HZZ self-employment aid, see the guide Aid and loans for young people, women and start-up entrepreneurs 2026.

How the interest on a HAMAG loan is calculated

In most programmes the interest rate is fixed and set by the programme, for example 0.10% for the SP ZPP loan or 0.1% for the foster carer loan. For the micro loan and the National Loans, the interest rate is linked to the base rate for Croatia, which is published by the European Commission. For the micro loan, the rate applicable on the day the application is received is used, and the interest rate stays the same until the end of repayment.

• Base rate for Croatia: 2.71% from 1 July to 31 October 2026 (previously 2.19%). The European Commission has not yet published the rate from 1 November 2026.
• Micro loan: 2.71 − 2.5 = 0.21%, so the minimum interest rate of 0.5% applies.
• National Loans (if they reopen): with the same base rate, the interest rate would be 3.21% for investment and 3.71% for working capital.

Micro loan amount	Quarterly interest during the grace period	Quarterly instalment after the grace period	Total interest
EUR 10,000	EUR 12.50	EUR 631.66	EUR 156.58
EUR 30,000	EUR 37.50	EUR 1,894.98	EUR 469.75
EUR 50,000	EUR 62.50	EUR 3,158.31	EUR 782.91

HAMAG-BICRO guarantees for bank loans

A guarantee helps an entrepreneur whose bank is willing to grant a loan but asks for more collateral than the entrepreneur has. HAMAG-BICRO then guarantees part of the loan principal. The application is not submitted to HAMAG-BICRO, but to the bank or HBOR. With the ERDF Portfolio Guarantee, the bank itself decides whether to cover the loan with the guarantee, while for individual guarantees and the PLUS Guarantee the lender forwards the application to HAMAG-BICRO together with its loan decision.

Guarantee	Maximum guarantee	Guarantee rate	Premium (one-off)	Where to apply
ERDF Portfolio Guarantee	EUR 300,000	up to 80% of the principal and regular interest	0.5% for investment, 1% for working capital	Agram banka, Banka Kovanica, Croatia banka, HPB, Imex banka, Istarska kreditna banka, Kent banka, Partner banka and Podravska banka
ERDF Individual Guarantee	EUR 10 million for investment, EUR 1 million for working capital (from EUR 300,000.01)	up to 80% (above EUR 5 million, up to 50%)	0.25 to 0.5% for investment, 0.5 to 1% for working capital	partner banks and HBOR
PLUS Guarantee	EUR 2 million for investment, EUR 1 million for working capital	up to 80% for investment, up to 50% for working capital	0.25 to 0.5% for investment, 0.5 to 1% for working capital	partner banks and HBOR
Portfolio Guarantee for Agriculture (Portfeljno jamstvo za poljoprivredu)	EUR 150,000 for investment, EUR 100,000 for working capital	up to 80%	to be published in the programme	in preparation; the banks have been selected, but the programme has not yet been published

• The ERDF Portfolio Guarantee is granted through the bank, which itself decides whether to use it. The bank is required to reduce the interest rate. The guarantee is not granted for agriculture and fishing, financial activities, real estate activities, refinancing, or activities and assets related to fossil fuels.
• The PLUS Guarantee is also intended for newly established entities, and under the working capital measure it can also cover refinancing, but only with another lender and on more favourable terms than the existing ones.
• All guarantee programmes are intended for micro, small and medium-sized entities, and agriculture is not covered for now, until the Portfolio Guarantee for Agriculture starts to apply.

HAMAG-BICRO or HBOR: what is the difference

	HAMAG-BICRO loans	HBOR loans
Who approves	HAMAG-BICRO directly	HBOR directly or through a commercial bank
Amount	from EUR 1,000 to 150,000, depending on the programme	as a rule from EUR 50,000 through a bank and from EUR 100,000 directly, and the maximum amount depends on the programme
Interest	from 0.1% to 0.5% in the open programmes	as a rule from 2% to 3.90% fixed for investment loans of up to EUR 400,000, and in programmes with a write-off 0% on half of the loan
Principal write-off	micro loan up to 30%, SP ZPP up to 45% (young farmers up to 50%), foster carers up to 50%	production modernisation and energy efficiency up to 50%, sustainable tourism up to 50% for loans above EUR 500,000, processing of agricultural products up to 40%
Application	HAMAG-BICRO online system	application to HBOR or a commercial bank
Size of beneficiary	micro, small and medium-sized entities, and for the micro loan only micro and small	SMEs, and in some programmes also large enterprises

For investments of up to EUR 50,000, look into the micro loan first, and for agricultural investments of up to EUR 150,000, the SP ZPP loan. For larger investments, see HBOR loans for 2026, and for investments from EUR 150,000 (micro enterprises from EUR 50,000) that create new jobs, also tax incentives for investment.

How to apply for a HAMAG loan

• Registration: since 1 January 2022, applications are submitted exclusively through the HAMAG-BICRO online system, after registering and opening a user account.
• Documentation: HAMAG-BICRO publishes a list for each programme. For the micro loan this includes, among other things, a business plan on the HAMAG-BICRO form, statements on aid received, on status and on compliance with the “do no significant harm” (DNSH) principle, offers or pro forma invoices, a table of credit indebtedness, a certificate from the Tax Administration and financial statements.
• Receipt: the application has been received when you get an e-mail with the classification and registry number. Funds are allocated until they are used up, so it is important that the application is complete.
• Decision and contract: after a positive decision, a special-purpose account is opened, and HAMAG-BICRO sends the contract and the collateral instruments by e-mail, which the entrepreneur has certified and delivers by post.
• Disbursement and use: the loan is paid into the special-purpose account, and HAMAG-BICRO checks that it is used for the intended purpose.
• Write-off: in programmes with a write-off, a written request is submitted during repayment, once the conditions are met. For the SP ZPP loan it is submitted once, no later than 18 months after the end of the drawdown period, and for the foster carer loan after half of the repayment period. The part of the principal that has already been repaid is not written off.

Most common mistakes with HAMAG-BICRO loans

• Paying before the loan is disbursed. Refunding previously paid obligations is not eligible, so the loan cannot cover anything paid before disbursement, including an advance payment.
• Investing in real estate with the micro loan. The micro loan does not finance real estate, including the fit-out of business premises. Equipment for the premises is eligible.
• Fossil-fuel vehicles. Because of the DNSH principle, vehicles and machinery running on fossil fuels are generally not eligible in programmes funded from EU funds. Under the SP ZPP loan, vehicles are eligible only for beekeepers.
• Too much working capital. In the micro loan, working capital may make up no more than 30% of the loan amount, and the SP ZPP growth loan and the foster carer loan do not finance working capital.
• Blocked account or debt to the state. The account must not be blocked, nor have been blocked continuously for more than 30 days in the last 6 months, and any debt to the state must be settled or rescheduled.
• Double funding. The same cost item must not be financed twice, and the SP ZPP loan must not be combined with grants from EU funds for the same investment.
• Waiting until the last moment. Applications are accepted until the funds are used up, and an incomplete application means lost time.

In the article HAMAG loan in practice: experience and comparison with HBOR and banks, we show how long approval takes in practice, why applications most often fail and how much a HAMAG loan costs compared with an HBOR loan and a bank loan, using an example of EUR 50,000.

Which HAMAG-BICRO programme is right for you?

• A company or sole proprietorship younger than 3 years, or an owner from a vulnerable group, investing up to EUR 50,000 in equipment: micro loan.
• A farmer in one of the nine SP ZPP sectors with an investment of up to EUR 150,000 that is prescribed for that sector: SP ZPP growth loan, with applications from 28 October 2026.
• A farmer or processor who needs working capital of up to EUR 25,000: SP ZPP Working Capital.
• A foster carer renovating or equipping their home: loan for community social services.
• A small or medium-sized company with a bank loan: ERDF Portfolio Guarantee of up to EUR 300,000, and for larger loans the ERDF Individual Guarantee or the PLUS Guarantee.
• Investment above EUR 150,000: HBOR loans, some with a write-off of up to 50% of the principal.

How Omnia Solutions can help

Omnia Solutions is a Zagreb consultancy specialising in EU funds and in favourable loans with a principal write-off. For HAMAG-BICRO loans, we prepare the application on a turnkey basis. Read more on the page HAMAG-BICRO loans: advice and application.

• Eligibility check and choice of programme, including a combination with an HBOR loan or grants.
• Investment plan: how much from the loan, how much from your own funds, and what may be bought and paid for when.
• Business plan and documentation according to the HAMAG-BICRO list, including the statements on aid and DNSH.
• Online application and answers to HAMAG-BICRO’s queries until the decision.
• After approval: help with disbursement, evidence of use for the intended purpose and the request for a partial principal write-off.

Frequently asked questions about HAMAG loans

What is a HAMAG loan?

A HAMAG loan is a loan that HAMAG-BICRO, the Croatian Agency for SMEs, Innovations and Investments, grants directly, without a bank as intermediary. Depending on the programme, it ranges from EUR 1,000 to 150,000, with a fixed interest rate of 0.1 to 0.5% per year in the open programmes, and in most programmes part of the principal can be written off if the conditions are met. The application is submitted online, and funds are allocated until they are used up.

Does HAMAG-BICRO provide loans or grants?

HAMAG-BICRO does not grant bank loans. It provides loans directly, which serve the same purpose as a bank loan, and guarantees for loans granted by banks and HBOR. It also awards grants to small and medium-sized enterprises through public calls and innovation programmes, and in some calls financed from EU funds it carries out the award procedure. According to the draft guidelines for the STEP SPIN call, for example, HAMAG-BICRO carries out the first phase, from the eligibility check to the quality assessment.

Which HAMAG-BICRO loans are open in 2026?

As of 26 October 2026, the open programmes are the Micro Loan for Growth and Inclusion (EUR 1,000 to 50,000), SP ZPP Working Capital (EUR 1,000 to 25,000) and Loans for Community Social Services for foster carers (EUR 5,000 to 50,000). Applications for SP ZPP Loans for Growth of Agricultural Production (EUR 1,000 to 150,000) are accepted from 28 October 2026 at 9:00. Small Loans for Women Entrepreneurs and Start-ups, Small Loans for Industrial Transition and the National Loans are temporarily closed.

What is the interest rate on a HAMAG-BICRO loan?

From 0.1% to 0.5% per year, fixed for the entire repayment period. The rate is 0.1% for the foster carer loan, 0.10% for the SP ZPP growth loan (applications from 28 October 2026), 0.50% for SP ZPP Working Capital and 0.5% for the micro loan. The interest on the micro loan equals the base rate for Croatia reduced by 2.5 percentage points, but cannot be lower than 0.5%.

What is the maximum amount of a HAMAG-BICRO loan?

The maximum amount is EUR 150,000, for the SP ZPP Loan for Growth of Agricultural Production, for which applications are accepted from 28 October 2026. In the programmes that are already open, the maximum is EUR 50,000, for the micro loan and the foster carer loan. For larger bank loans, HAMAG-BICRO provides guarantees, for example the ERDF Individual Guarantee of up to EUR 10 million or the PLUS Guarantee of up to EUR 2 million.

Can I apply for a HAMAG-BICRO loan if I am only just setting up a company or sole proprietorship?

Yes, persons who are only just setting up a company or sole proprietorship can also apply for the micro loan, and the contract is signed with the registered entity. The majority owner must work full time in it and must not hold more than 30% of the shares in another entity, and must not have held such a share for more than 3 years in total. Anyone using the HZZ self-employment aid can apply for the micro loan only after the first year, counting from the signing of the contract with HZZ.

Is there a HAMAG-BICRO loan for women entrepreneurs and start-ups?

The Small Loans for Women Entrepreneurs and Start-ups programme (EUR 25,001 to 100,000, interest 0.5%, write-off up to 50%) is temporarily closed because the funds have been used up, and by 26 October 2026 HAMAG-BICRO had not published a reopening date. Young companies can look into the micro loan, and women entrepreneurs can also look into HBOR’s programme for young people, women and start-ups.

Which HAMAG-BICRO loans have a principal write-off?

The micro loan up to 30%, with the additional employment of a person with a disability, a person older than 55, a long-term unemployed person or a young person up to 29 years of age without work experience; the SP ZPP growth loan up to 45% (young farmers up to 50%), subject to the sector criteria; and the foster carer loan up to 50% if the investment improves living conditions or increases capacity. The currently closed loans for women entrepreneurs and start-ups and for industrial transition also have a write-off of up to 50%, and with the closed National Loans, 20 to 50% of the principal is subsidised for beneficiaries in municipalities and towns in development groups I to IV.

How do I apply for a HAMAG-BICRO loan?

Exclusively through the HAMAG-BICRO online system, after registering a user account, with the documentation listed for each programme. The application has been received when you get an e-mail with the classification and registry number. After approval, a special-purpose account is opened, the contract is signed and the collateral instruments are delivered, and the loan is paid into that account.

Can I buy equipment before the loan is approved?

It is not recommended. Refunding previously paid obligations is not eligible, and completed investments cannot be financed either. The loan cannot cover anything that has already been paid, including an advance payment, so payments should wait until the loan is disbursed.

Can a HAMAG-BICRO loan be used to buy a vehicle?

It depends on the programme and the vehicle. Under the principle that an investment must not cause significant harm to the environment (DNSH), vehicles and machinery running on fossil fuels are generally not eligible in programmes funded from EU funds, while an electric vehicle may be eligible. Under the SP ZPP loan, only beekeepers with more than 100 hives can buy vehicles, and the foster carer loan does not finance vehicles.

Can a family farm (OPG) apply for a HAMAG-BICRO loan?

Yes, in the SP ZPP programmes. The SP ZPP growth loan is intended for family farms and other entities in nine sectors of livestock farming, beekeeping, fruit growing and vegetable growing, and SP ZPP Working Capital for entities in primary agriculture and processing. The micro loan does not finance agriculture, and the ERDF and PLUS guarantees do not cover agriculture and fishing.

Can a HAMAG-BICRO loan be combined with grants?

For the micro loan, a combination is allowed if the total of all aid does not exceed the amount of the individual cost item, and the same item must not be financed twice. The micro loan must not be used to pre-finance grants. SP ZPP loans must not be combined with grants or other financial instruments from EU funds for the same investment.

What is a HAMAG-BICRO guarantee and how can I obtain one?

A guarantee is a collateral instrument by which HAMAG-BICRO guarantees part of the loan principal to a bank or HBOR, as a rule up to 80%. The loan is applied for at a bank or HBOR. With the ERDF Portfolio Guarantee, the bank itself decides whether to cover the loan with the guarantee, while for the other guarantees the lender forwards the application to HAMAG-BICRO together with its loan decision. The ERDF Portfolio Guarantee amounts to up to EUR 300,000 per guarantee, and for larger loans there are the ERDF Individual Guarantee and the PLUS Guarantee.

Sources

• HAMAG-BICRO: Loans, overview of programmes and their status
• HAMAG-BICRO: Micro Loan for Growth and Inclusion
• HAMAG-BICRO: SP ZPP Loans for Growth of Agricultural Production in Sensitive Sectors
• HAMAG-BICRO: SP ZPP Working Capital
• HAMAG-BICRO: Loans for Community Social Services and programme text
• HAMAG-BICRO: Small Loans for Women Entrepreneurs and Start-ups and programme text
• HAMAG-BICRO: Small Loans for Industrial Transition
• HAMAG-BICRO: National Loans for Investment and for Working Capital
• HAMAG-BICRO: ERDF Portfolio Guarantees and announcement of the agreements with banks
• HAMAG-BICRO: ERDF Individual Guarantees and PLUS Guarantee Programme
• HAMAG-BICRO: announcement of the Portfolio Guarantee for Agriculture (3 September 2026) and selected banks
• HAMAG-BICRO: Loan application procedure and Documentation
• HAMAG-BICRO: Frequently asked questions about loans and List of excluded activities
• European Commission: reference and discount rates (base rate for Croatia)

The conditions are summarised from official sources as of 26 October 2026 and may change. The applicable programme text on hamagbicro.hr prevails. The decision on a loan or guarantee is made by HAMAG-BICRO, and the decision on a bank loan by the bank or HBOR.