The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is extending a €2 million loan to Palestine Investment Bank (PIB) to expand access to finance for women-led businesses in the West Bank, according to a press release published on 9 July 2026. The financing targets a critically underserved segment of the local economy and is supported by European Union (EU) funded technical assistance and first-loss risk cover. It is being deployed under the EBRD’s Women in Business programme. The facility aims to increase access to finance for women-led micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and to promote gender inclusion. The partnership reflects a joint commitment by the EBRD and the EU to advance economic opportunities for Palestinian women entrepreneurs.
PIB was established in 1994 and is headquartered in Ramallah. The bank employs over 330 people and operates 21 branches and offices, including a branch in Bahrain and a representative office in London. It provides a full range of commercial banking services to retail, corporate, SME and public-sector clients. Since the start of its activities in the West Bank and Gaza in 2017, the EBRD has approved 39 projects worth a total of €209.5 million. The new agreement builds on this footprint in the local financial sector.
The loan will be used for on-lending to eligible private MSMEs led by women in the West Bank, supporting them amid the current operating environment and challenging conditions. The facility will be accompanied by 20 per cent first-loss risk cover funded by the EU through its Initiative for Financial Inclusion (Neighbourhood Investment Facility – SEMED Financial Inclusion Programme). PIB will also receive an EU-funded technical assistance package to develop sustainable credit mechanisms. This includes financial products and lending practices tailored to the specific needs of women-led MSMEs, as well as staff training and marketing activities. The blended support seeks to strengthen PIB’s capacity to serve women entrepreneurs sustainably.
The EBRD’s Advice for Small Businesses programme will offer advisory and capacity-building services to PIB’s women sub-borrowers. These services aim to help improve their competitiveness and business performance through consultancy services, training sessions, mentorship and coaching.
Commenting on the signing, EBRD Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Region Gretchen Biery said: “We are pleased to partner with Palestine Investment Bank to support Palestinian women-led businesses in the West Bank. This financing will help unlock greater economic opportunities for women and underscores our shared commitment with the EU to advancing gender inclusion in the economy.”
The statement highlights the strategic alignment between the two institutions.
PIB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sameeh Sbaih said the agreement marks an important step in promoting financial inclusion and supporting women-led businesses, especially in the current challenging environment. He thanked the EBRD and the EU for their support, noting that it will strengthen PIB’s ability to serve those most in need. He added that the partnership will help promote women’s entrepreneurship and contribute to a more resilient and inclusive economy. The combined loan, risk cover, technical assistance and advisory package are set to broaden financing options for women-led MSMEs in the West Bank. Together, they reinforce the EBRD and EU’s ongoing engagement in the region.
