Collaboration between the 394 Fund and the banking system

In compliance with the Ministerial Decree and approval of the Financial Support Committee, SIMEST has launched a system for cooperation with the banking system, which also aims to increase the number of subsidised loans supporting businesses with an international dimension.

Together with SIMEST granting the subsidised loans, the Banks taking part in the initiative (Member Banks) will act as agent banks for Italian applicant companies, for the purposes of granting and maintaining the loans.

In fact, each Member Bank will assist Italian applicant companies during each step of the process for accessing, managing and monitoring the loans, as set out in more detail in the Agreement.

In particular, the Initiative covers the following activities:

• the Member Bank will act as agent bank for granting the subsidised loans, for Beneficiaries, even in the absence of a bank loan;
• the Member Bank will grant Beneficiaries a bank loan, as applicable;
• the Member Bank, through its own organisation and in compliance with directives issued by the supervisory authorities on credit activities, will carry out some activities prior to the granting of the Subsidised Loans, and, in a capacity as agent bank, will oversee the administration and management of the loans, in compliance with the Agreement and with Applicable Regulations.

For more details on the activities of the Member Banks, see Annex E to the agreement template.

Banks can join the Initiative by signing the Agreement and sending it to SIMEST’s certified email address: simest@legalmail.it

The Agreement must be digitally signed by the legal representative of the Member Bank or by a person with suitable powers.

When joining, the Member Bank must indicate its own certified email address, tax code, bank association code, and the first name and last name of one or more administrative contact persons.

After receiving the signed Agreement from the Member Bank, SIMEST will sign the Agreement and send it to the certified email address indicated by each Member Bank.

SIMEST will then enable each Member Bank and its contact persons to use SIMEST’s operating platform, at www.simest.it 

• Banca Iccrea
• Banco BPM
• Unicredit
• Monte dei Paschi di Siena
• BPER
• Banco di Sardegna
• Banca Popolare di Bari
• Banca Intesa Sanpaolo
• BNL
• Cherry Bank

• From 09.00 hours on 25 July 2024, businesses can access the Portal to compile and submit loan applications for the new instrument “Potenziamento dei mercati africani” (“Strengthening African markets”), and for the new conditions dedicated to Africa of the instruments “Inserimento mercati” (“Entry on markets”), “Certificazioni e consulenze” (“Certification and advisory services”), “Fiere ed Eventi” (“Trade fairs and events”), “E-commerce” and “Temporary Manager”.
• From 18.00 hours on 24 July until 09.00 hours on 25 July, the Portal will be offline for updates, in view of the opening, and it will not be possible to use it.
• See how to access the Portal

 Compiling the application

• To compile the application, you must (i) attach all necessary documentation, as indicated in the Circular, (ii) give details of the legal representative, (iii) give details of the beneficial owner of the Applicant company, (iv) upload the contract of the dedicated current account, (v) upload the articles of association of the company. All documents must be digitally signed.
• In any case, submitting an application will not entitle the applicant to have the financing approved/granted. Approval/granting is subject to the application being complete, access requirements being met, the successful completion of SIMEST’s application review and the actual availability of financial resources, as well as approval from the Financial Support Committee.