Unicaja Banco has entered into collaboration agreements with business owner associations from six towns in Malaga province: Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Mijas, Nerja, Torremolinos and Vélez-Málaga, which gather nearly 1,700 members. The goal is to provide funding on advantageous terms to the businesses member of these associations, especially in view of the situation caused by the COVID-19 crisis.

The associations belong to Malaga Confederation of Business Owners (CEM, Confederación de Empresarios de Málaga). In fact, the agreements fall within the agreement signed in July between Unicaja Banco and CEM.

In particular, the associations with which Unicaja Banco reinforces its collaboration are Asociaciones de Empresarios de Benalmádena (ACEB), Nerja (AEN), Torremolinos (ACET) y Vélez-Málaga (ACEV) and Asociación de la Pequeña y Mediana Empresa de Fuengirola y Mijas (Cepyme).

The agreement entered into Unicaja Banco and the said associations reinforces, as did the one entered into with CEM, the long-term existing relationship and aims to achieve the common goals of promoting the business fabric, facilitating the economic boost and supporting employment in Malaga and its province.

The goal is to provide financing on advantageous terms to businesses from those towns, with the aim of promoting investments, encouraging foreign trade and supporting the expansion and development of strategic projects of Malaga province business sector.

Businesses in general and SMEs in particular continue to be one of the key groups in Unicaja Banco’s funding policy, especially in Andalusia and, in particular, in Malaga. One of the bank’s priority commercial axes is providing financing to businesses, which are a key driver to make the economy more dynamic and to stimulate job creation.

Main features of the agreement

These collaboration agreements include specific financial products and services under advantageous conditions, aimed at meeting the needs of businesses and of the self-employed registered with these five business associations. It also includes a microcredit facility to promote self-employment with small loans to business owners, entrepreneurs or professionals with viable initiatives. The maximum amount of those microcredits will be 25,000 euros to finance up to 90% of the presented project.

As part of the CEM, the companies belonging to these five associations will also benefit from advantageous conditions in services such as:

·        Deposit Products: Fee-Free Plan for Professional Firms, Fee-Free Plan for Professional Freelancers, as well as treasury management for freelancers and businesses through accounts, mutual funds or private banking.

·         Financing for Businesses: Financioning services (factoring, reverse factoring, leasing and renting); financing for working capital and to invest in new projects and foreign trade; ICO lines; microcredits and First Company Loan to promote self-employment with viable initiatives.

·         Other Products and Services for companies: management of subsidies and official credits, means of payment, payment of taxes, real estate, etc.

·         International Transactions: foreign trade, financing, currencies and services.

·         Digital Banking: web and app.

·         Insurances and pension plans, with, wide coverage and benefits.