Nacional Financiera (NAFIN) and Banco Santander México have partnered under the Ecocrédito Sustentable program to provide up to MX$13 million in energy-efficiency financing for Mexican small and medium-sized enterprises. The initiative targets rising electricity costs that pressure business margins by funding 25 certified sustainable technologies through a self-financing model driven by utility savings.

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Mexico’s national development bank Nacional Financiera (NAFIN) has partnered with Banco Santander México to launch a specialized financing scheme aimed at improving energy efficiency among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and sole proprietorships. Under NAFIN’s Ecocrédito Sustentable program, Santander will extend credit lines of up to MX$13 million (US$746,754) to eligible businesses. These facilities feature repayment terms of up to 60 months, a fixed annual interest rate of 16%, and a 2% origination fee.

The primary objective of the alliance is to finance the acquisition of energy-efficient equipment, particularly in commercial sectors where electricity costs directly affect profit margins. The credit structure covers 25 certified sustainable technologies, including advanced climate control systems, industrial refrigeration, and other high-impact electrical equipment. According to the participating institutions, the financial model operates on the principle that “the savings pay the credit,” meaning reductions in monthly utility expenses are intended to offset loan obligations from the first month of operation.

To qualify for the Ecocrédito Sustentable initiative, applicants must undergo an energy diagnostic assessment. This evaluation must be verified and approved by a NAFIN technical validator to ensure the technical viability of the equipment and confirm measurable reductions in energy consumption. Santander PyMEs estimates it will allocate MX$30 million (US$1.7 million) during the first year of the program, directing resources toward lower operating costs and more sustainable business practices.

“We are opening the credit portfolio to facilitate the acquisition of energy-efficient equipment for SMEs and individuals with business activities, generating real and measurable savings from the first month,” said Marcos Abal, executive director of SMEs, Banco Santander México. “By joining NAFIN’s Ecocrédito Sustentable program, we strengthen collaboration with federal government priorities and provide financial solutions that allow businesses to become more competitive, sustainable, and liquid.”

BanCoppel Collaboration Expands MSME Capital Access

NAFIN’s partnership with Santander is not its only SME-focused financing initiative announced this year. In March 2026, BanCoppel announced a strategic investment of $1.5 billion to finance more than 5,000 micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and individual entrepreneurs over the next five years. Formalized during the 89th Banking Convention by BanCoppel CEO Carlos López-Moctezuma and NAFIN Director General Roberto Lazzeri Montaño, the initiative is backed by four specialized NAFIN credit programs under the federal government’s US$277 billion “Plan México” development strategy.

The financing framework offers accessible credit lines with fixed or variable interest rates capped at approximately 14.5% annually to reduce bureaucratic barriers. Key sub-programs include Automatic Guarantee credits of up to US$1.12 million for strategic sectors, Productive Chain Factoring for accounts receivable, Credicadenas loans of up to US$562,320, and Micro-business Financing of up to US$14,620 to support formalization. The initiative targets local value chains in sectors such as textiles, footwear, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and petrochemicals.

Institutional Framework for Financial Inclusion

These commercial banking alliances align with NAFIN’s broader SME financing strategy outlined in its 2025–2030 Institutional Program released in January 2026. Developed in line with Mexico’s National Development Plan (PND) 2025–2030, the strategy frames MSMEs as a key driver of employment, innovation, and integration into global value chains under the broader”Plan México” framework. 

NAFIN’s diagnostic data shows that while MSMEs generate roughly 52% of Mexico’s GDP and account for about 68% of national employment, access to formal credit remains limited. Only 12.4% of MSMEs report having successfully accessed formal financing, constrained by factors such as informality, lack of credit history, insufficient collateral, and uneven access to banking services across regions.

To address these gaps, the 2025–2030 program sets a national target to increase MSME access to formal credit from 12% to 30% by 2030. Some progress has already been recorded: a previous agreement signed in May 2025 between the federal government and the Association of Mexican Banks (ABM) increased MSME credit coverage to 26.2%, up 1.6 percentage points from the baseline.