Business Sustainability Loan
Loans for businesses, farmers and community organisations investing in renewable energy, qualifying building improvements or other eligible environmental measures.
Borrow €2,000–€100,000 for a single eligible purpose, including essential ancillary costs, with a term of up to seven years. Separate eligible purposes can have separate Business Sustainability Loans. You repay the loan with interest: AIB currently publishes a variable rate of 4.95%. Its representative €50,000 five-year example has a 5.14% annual percentage rate (APR), monthly repayments of €944.14 and a total cost of credit of €6,648.40, assuming the rate does not change.
Agricultural investments can cover renewable energy such as solar panels or anaerobic digesters; improvements to animal living conditions that improve animal efficiency or production; pollution control such as manure storage; afforestation, reforestation or forest restoration; biodiversity improvements; and non-fuel-based machinery that improves farming efficiency. The agricultural scheme-membership requirement below applies.
For other sectors, eligible purposes include renewable energy and its supporting infrastructure; qualifying building purchases, construction and improvements; building renovations achieving at least a 30% improvement in energy efficiency; electric or zero-tailpipe-emission vehicles, electric bikes or scooters and EV charging equipment; and management or remediation of non-hazardous waste, including segregated-waste collection and material recovery.
For the green-buildings route, a purchased, built or improved property must reach at least Building Energy Rating (BER) B3, or B where the BER certificate is dated after 24 May 2026, or Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) B. This threshold also applies to individual measures such as windows, doors, insulation, ventilation and LED lighting under that route. A BER indicates expected energy use for heating, ventilation, lighting and hot water; the separate building-renovation route requires the 30% improvement described above.
The variable rate can increase your repayments. Some variable-rate loans keep a fixed payment, so additional repayments may be needed at the end. Changes to your repayment schedule may require a new credit application. If you agree an interest-only period, the full amount borrowed remains outstanding at its end. Grant or VAT-refund bridging is available subject to the same amount limits, with a shorter maximum term aligned with the grant or refund repayment.
The general terms permit full or partial early repayment without penalty while a variable rate applies. Fees, security costs and relevant professional or valuation expenses can still apply, even if the facility is not drawn down. Your approval letter sets the specific terms and takes precedence where it conflicts with the general terms. Loan-account facilities are repayable on demand; term loans can be called for early repayment following default, including a missed payment.
Eligibility
The loan supports businesses, including farmers, clubs, trusts and charities. AIB assesses repayment capacity and financial status; lending is unavailable to anyone under 18 and security may be required.
- Agricultural businesses must provide proof of membership in at least one of these: Bord Bia Quality Assurance; Irish Grain Assurance; Organic Farmer; a dairy co-operative, beef processor or grain merchant sustainability programme; or a Department of Agriculture environmental scheme. Request proof from the programme; Department scheme membership can be downloaded from agfood.ie.
- Under the general lending terms, your business must be centred in Ireland and have no establishment in another country, unless you have told AIB otherwise in writing. The formal declaration calls this your “centre of main interests”.
- Working capital (money for day-to-day operating costs), land purchases and refinancing existing AIB loans are excluded.
- Before drawdown, provide evidence matching an eligible purpose. AIB accepts evidence such as an invoice or purchase order addressed to the borrower and dated within 18 months before signing the Credit Agreement, a valid BER certificate or an energy audit. The bank specifies what it accepts for your request in the approval letter. The FAQ also confirms that an earlier solar-panel investment can qualify with proof dated within 18 months before signing the letter of sanction.
- Where the approval letter requires security, it must be completed and delivered to AIB's satisfaction before drawdown. Any valuation AIB requests is at your expense and, unless agreed otherwise, uses its approved panel. The general terms require insurance for your business and assets against fire and usual risks for the loan's duration. The cover must be index-linked, so the insured amount adjusts with costs, cover the full cost of reinstating the business and assets, and come from an insurer AIB accepts. Provide proof of cover and premium payments before funds are released and when requested. For assets pledged as security, AIB's interest must be noted on the policy unless AIB gives you notice that it wants to be insured under the policy instead. On receiving that notice, you must immediately take the required steps to ensure AIB is insured under the policy.
- For a joint-account facility, each borrower is liable for repayment of the whole facility.
How to apply
- Status
- Open continuously
- Round restrictions
- Apply by telephone, through your relationship manager or at a local AIB branch. Credit assessment and evidence of an eligible purpose apply.
Call AIB on 0818 47 88 33, Monday to Friday, 09:00–17:00, or apply through your relationship manager or local branch. AIB assesses the request, specifies accepted supporting evidence in the approval letter and requires that evidence before releasing the funds.