Subsidy Cuts Loan Guarantee Costs
The Barcelona City Council is offering subsidies of €1,519.50 to small businesses and self-employed workers in the city who have taken out loans through the B-CRÈDITS+ guaranteed credit line.
The subsidy covers two financial charges: the 0.6% opening fee on the guarantee (€150) and the 1.5% CAIR cost on the outstanding loan risk (€1,369.50), according to the council’s official grant notice published in March 2026.
This initiative aims to lower the financial burden on local firms by offsetting part of the guarantee costs associated with their loans. Only one subsidy may be claimed per natural or legal person who has already formalised a B-CRÈDITS+ loan.
Eligibility and Application Process
To qualify, applicants must be small businesses or self-employed individuals with their registered office, tax domicile, or operational workplace in Barcelona. The loan must have been received and formalised under the B-CRÈDITS+ programme, which was developed jointly by Barcelona Activa, the Catalan Institute of Finance (ICF), and Avalis de Catalunya.
The application window opened on 9 February 2026 and will remain open until 15 September 2027. Applications must be submitted through a dedicated online platform managed by the city council.
"The B-CRÈDITS+ programme supports viable local enterprises by improving access to affordable financing," states the municipal government's administrative information portal.
The broader B-CRÈDITS+ framework includes a total funding pool of €4 million, enabling up to 160 loans of €25,000 each at a fixed interest rate of 3%. These loans are designed for investment such as equipment purchases, space modernisation, digital transformation, or working capital needs.
Repayment Terms and Programme Goals
- Loans can be repaid over up to 10 years
- A 12-month grace period is available initially
- Followed by up to 48 months of amortisation
- All loan formalisations must be completed by 30 June 2027
The scheme forms part of the city’s economic strategy to strengthen the local business fabric, where microenterprises and self-employed workers represent over 94% of active economic entities.
Primary sources: ajuntament.barcelona.cat. Reported by diaricatalunya.cat, barcelonactiva.cat, icf.cat, Diari Catalunya.
