HAMAG-BICRO is currently accepting applications for four loan programmes, from EUR 1,000 to 150,000 at interest rates of 0.1 to 0.5%, and the Small Loans for Industrial Transition reopen on 20 November 2026. HBOR has 12 loan programmes for entrepreneurs, with fixed interest rates of 2 to 4% for loans of up to EUR 400,000, and in four programmes the interest rate is 0% on half of the loan with a possible write-off of 40 or 50% of the principal.
All programmes and calls with their status, amounts and deadlines in one place are in the Funding programmes overview 2026. If you are not sure which programme fits your investment, answer seven questions in the questionnaire.
Check in a minute which programme fits your investment
Six short questions, 12 HAMAG-BICRO, HBOR and EU programmes, an answer with a reason for each. At the end you can send an enquiry with your answers and we will check the conditions free of charge.
This page lists all programmes of both institutions in two tables, with amounts, interest rates, repayment, principal write-off and programme status. We checked the conditions on the HAMAG-BICRO and HBOR websites on 29 and 30 October 2026, and we check the tables every week. Detailed descriptions of the programmes are in the guides HAMAG-BICRO loans 2026 and HBOR loans for entrepreneurs 2026.
HAMAG-BICRO or HBOR: the main differences
| 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, with the maximum depending on the programme |
| Interest rate | 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 0% on half of the loan in the programmes with a write-off |
| Principal write-off | micro loan up to 30%, SP ZPP up to 45% (young farmers up to 50%), foster carers up to 50% (applications suspended on 4 November 2026) | 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 on-line system | application to HBOR or to a commercial bank |
| Size of beneficiary | micro, small and medium-sized entities, and the micro loan only micro and small | SMEs, and in some programmes also large enterprises |
For investments of up to EUR 50,000 check the micro loan first, and for agricultural investments of up to EUR 150,000 the SP ZPP loan. For larger investments the HBOR loans come into consideration.
All HAMAG-BICRO loans
| Programme | Status | Amount | Interest rate | Repayment | Principal write-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Micro Loan for Growth and Inclusion | open | EUR 1,000 to 50,000 | base rate minus 2.5 pp, 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 | open, applications from 28 October 2026 | 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 Social Services in the Community (foster carers) | closed, applications suspended on 4 November 2026 | EUR 5,000 to 50,000 | 0.1% | up to 15 years | up to 50% |
| Small Loans for Industrial Transition | applications from 20 November 2026 | 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-up Entrepreneurs | temporarily closed | EUR 25,001 to 100,000 | 0.5% | up to 10 years | up to 50% |
| National Loans for Investment | temporarily closed | EUR 25,000.01 to 150,000 | base rate plus 0.5 pp | up to 10 years | subsidy of 20 to 50% of the principal in local units of development groups I to IV |
| National Loans for Working Capital | temporarily closed | EUR 1,000 to 50,000 | base rate plus 1 pp | up to 3 years | subsidy of 20 to 50% of the principal in local units of development groups I to IV |
The Small Loans for Industrial Transition accept applications from 20 November 2026 at 8:00, according to the HAMAG-BICRO announcement of 30 October 2026. The conditions and an eligibility check are on the page Small Loans for Industrial Transition.
All HBOR loans for entrepreneurs
| Programme | For whom | Loan amount | Interest rate | Repayment | Special feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Sector Investment | private sector, all sizes | directly from EUR 100,000, through a bank from EUR 50,000; up to 75% of the investment | 3.40% or 3.90% fixed up to EUR 400,000; above that a subsidy is possible | up to 20 years, grace period up to 3 | the broadest programme |
| Entrepreneurship of Young People, Women, Start-ups and Special Segments | SMEs: young people, women, start-ups, assisted and hill and mountain areas, commercialisation of RDI | up to EUR 400,000; through a bank up to 100% of the investment excluding VAT | directly 3.90% fixed; through a bank up to 3.00% | up to 12 years, grace period up to 3 (exceptionally up to 14) | through a bank possible without own contribution |
| Loans for Production Modernisation | micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in manufacturing | EUR 100,000 to 3,000,000 | 0% on half of the loan (European Regional Development Fund, ERDF) | up to 15 years, grace period up to 3 | write-off of up to 50% of the principal |
| Loans for Processing of Agricultural Products | SMEs: slaughterhouses, processing of cereals, fruit and vegetables | EUR 200,000 to 3,000,000 | 0% on half of the loan | up to 20 years, grace period up to 3 | write-off of up to 40%; applications from 28 October 2026 |
| Loans for Sustainable Tourism | SMEs: hotels and camps | EUR 250,000 to 7,000,000 | 0% on half of the loan (ERDF) | up to 20 years, grace period up to 4 | write-off of up to 50% for loans above EUR 500,000 |
| Energy Efficiency Loans for Entrepreneurs | all sizes; manufacturing, trade, hospitality and accommodation | up to EUR 3,000,000 | 0% on half of the loan (ERDF); the bank share according to the bank | up to 17 years, grace period up to 3 | write-off of up to 50%; only through a bank |
| Investment in Digital Transition (NPOO) | all sizes | directly from EUR 100,000, through a bank from EUR 50,000 | 2.00% fixed up to EUR 400,000 (directly); through a bank at most 3.50% | up to 20 years, grace period up to 3 | strategic digital projects |
| Investment in Green Transition (NPOO) | all sizes | from EUR 100,000 | 2.00% fixed up to EUR 400,000 | up to 20 years, grace period up to 3 | directly only |
| Investment in Defence and Security (NPOO) | all sizes | from EUR 100,000 | 2.00% fixed up to EUR 400,000 | up to 20 years, grace period up to 3 | directly only |
| SME Investment in RDI and AI (NPOO) | SMEs | above EUR 100,000 up to 1,000,000 (start-ups up to EUR 500,000) | 2.00% fixed | up to 15 years, grace period up to 3 | directly only, until the NPOO funds are used up |
| Working Capital | private and public sector | through a bank from EUR 50,000; directly exceptionally from EUR 500,000 | 4.00% fixed up to EUR 400,000 | short-term up to 12 months; long-term up to 6 years | current operations |
| EU Projects | grant beneficiaries | directly from EUR 100,000, through a bank from EUR 50,000 | at least 3.24% fixed up to EUR 400,000 | according to the project | own contribution and other project costs |
Which programme fits your investment
- Young companies and start-ups, up to EUR 50,000. HAMAG-BICRO micro loan, interest rate 0.5% and write-off of up to 30% of the principal.
- Farmers and family farms, up to EUR 150,000. SP ZPP loans, interest rate 0.10% and write-off of up to 45% of the principal.
- Small and medium-sized enterprises outside the City of Zagreb, from EUR 25,001 to 100,000. Small Loans for Industrial Transition, from 20 November 2026.
- Manufacturing, from EUR 100,000 to 3,000,000. HBOR loans for production modernisation, interest rate 0% on half of the loan and write-off of up to 50% of the principal.
- Young entrepreneurs, women and start-ups, up to EUR 400,000. The HBOR programme for young people, women and start-ups, through a bank at an interest rate of up to 3.00% and up to 100% of the investment excluding VAT.
- Other investments from EUR 50,000. The HBOR programme Private Sector Investment, interest rate 3.40% or 3.90% fixed for loans of up to EUR 400,000.
The guides also give an overview by groups of entrepreneurs, in the sections of HAMAG-BICRO loans 2026 and HBOR loans for entrepreneurs 2026.
If you are not sure which programme fits your investment, write to info@omniasolutions.hr or call 097 7969 679. The introductory call is free of charge.
About the author
Matija Vlahovski, MSc in Economics
Co-founder and director of Omnia Solutions. He has more than 13 years of experience in business financing, mostly with HAMAG-BICRO loans, HBOR loans, investment studies and tax incentives. He has taken part in preparing and implementing more than 130 projects, through which clients were awarded more than EUR 20 million in grants and more than EUR 2 million in tax incentives. Before consulting, he worked at Privredna banka Zagreb, preparing loan proposals for small and medium-sized enterprises. He holds a HANFA licence.
Data as of 29 October 2026 · Checked every week · Sources: 5, listed at the end of the article · How we check our information · Report an error
Frequently asked questions about the comparison of HAMAG-BICRO loans and HBOR loans
What is the difference between a HAMAG-BICRO loan and an HBOR loan?
HAMAG-BICRO approves loans directly, without a bank as intermediary, in amounts from EUR 1,000 to 150,000 depending on the programme, at fixed interest rates of 0.1 to 0.5% in the open programmes, and the application is submitted in an on-line system. HBOR approves loans directly or through a commercial bank, as a rule from EUR 50,000 through a bank and from EUR 100,000 directly, at fixed interest rates of 2 to 3.90% for investment loans of up to EUR 400,000, and in four programmes with a principal write-off the interest rate is 0% on half of the loan.
Which programme has the lowest interest rate?
At HAMAG-BICRO the lowest interest rate among open programmes is in the SP ZPP loans for growth of agricultural production (0.10%), while the micro loan and SP ZPP working capital have 0.5%. At HBOR the interest rate is 0% on half of the loan in the programmes for production modernisation, processing of agricultural products, sustainable tourism and energy efficiency, and in the NPOO programmes 2.00% fixed for loans of up to EUR 400,000.
Which programmes have a principal write-off?
At HAMAG-BICRO the micro loan up to 30%, the SP ZPP loans for growth up to 45% (young farmers up to 50%), and the Small Loans for Industrial Transition and the Small Loans for Women Entrepreneurs and Start-up Entrepreneurs up to 50%. At HBOR the loans for production modernisation and for energy efficiency up to 50%, the loans for sustainable tourism up to 50% for loans above EUR 500,000 and the loans for processing of agricultural products up to 40%.
What are the minimum and maximum amounts?
HAMAG-BICRO loans start from EUR 1,000 (micro loan, SP ZPP loans, SP ZPP working capital and national loans for working capital) and go up to EUR 150,000 (SP ZPP loan for growth and national loans for investment). HBOR loans as a rule start from EUR 50,000 through a bank and from EUR 100,000 directly, and the highest amounts are EUR 3,000,000 for production modernisation, processing and energy efficiency and EUR 7,000,000 for sustainable tourism.
Which HAMAG-BICRO programmes are currently open?
As of 3 November 2026, HAMAG-BICRO accepts applications for the micro loan for growth and inclusion, the SP ZPP loans for growth of agricultural production and SP ZPP working capital, and it accepts applications for the Small Loans for Industrial Transition again from 20 November 2026 at 8:00. Applications for the loan for foster carers were suspended on 4 November 2026. The Small Loans for Women Entrepreneurs and Start-up Entrepreneurs and the national loans are temporarily closed.
Sources
- HAMAG-BICRO, How to get a loan (loan overview and programme pages, in Croatian)
- HAMAG-BICRO, Small Loans for Industrial Transition (in Croatian)
- HBOR, Private Sector Investment (in Croatian)
- HBOR, Entrepreneurship of Young People, Women, Start-ups and Other Special Segments (in Croatian)
- HBOR, Loans for Production Modernisation (in Croatian)
