BBVA USA launches milestone green commercial real estate loan throughout its footprint

The loan is designed to help small business owners with closing costs related to the purchase of commercial real estate, provided the property meets certain environmental sustainability standards. The loan is another step the bank is taking in support of the second pillar of its strategic plan - focusing on aligning business efforts with economic, social and environmental sustainability.

Dobers: "We’ve long been champions of small businesses, the economic backbone of this country..."

“This product underscores both the economic and environmental concepts of the bank’s strategic plan,” said BBVA USA Small- to Medium-Enterprises Network Executive Elizabeth Dobers. “It helps small business owners build their business portfolio with savings on closing costs as well as their green portfolio by acquiring energy-efficient property. We’ve long been champions of small businesses, the economic backbone of this country, and this is another way we’re continuing that mentality, while encouraging sustainable behavior.”

BBVA USA’s new sustainability-focused loan allows small business owners to receive a discount of 1 percent, up to $10,000, of their loan amount toward closing costs if they buy or build an energy-efficient building, or renovate an existing building to improve its energy efficiency. To qualify for the loan to build or purchase an existing building, the property must obtain one of the following certifications: LEED® green building program, National Green Building StandardTM, Green Globes®, Living Building ChallengeTM, or ENERGY STAR™. If the loan is for a building renovation, the building must secure one of the previous certifications or achieve a verifiable 20 percent increase in efficiency from measures not required by building code, or can include adding an on-site renewable power system that supports at least 20 percent of the renovated building’s total electrical load.

Matzen: "It signals a new way of doing business..."

“This product is a starting point in the larger sustainability picture that we’re piecing together,” said BBVA USA Client Solutions Director of Sustainability Evan Matzen. “This rollout is essentially a momentum-builder for BBVA. It signals a new way of doing business that not only provides solutions for our clients that will benefit them financially, but ones that will benefit their - and our - communities in the long run.”

Environmental sustainability has consistently been one of the cornerstone priorities for BBVA in the U.S.and across its global footprint - a message that has continued throughout 2020 and amid the ongoing global pandemic. In February 2018, BBVA announced its global strategy around climate change and sustainable development, Pledge 2025, where the bank plans to mobilize €100 billion in green finance, sustainable infrastructures, social entrepreneurship and financial inclusion through 2025. In June, BBVA Group announced that it had secured €40 billion in sustainable finance, reaching 40 percent of its sustainable finance target for Pledge 2025 just two and a half years after its launch.

Genç: "Only banks can play a central role in distributing the resources, which is a key part of the climate change challenge."

“Today, more than ever, banks play an important role in addressing the sustainability challenge,” said BBVA Group CEO Onur Genç at a banking industry conference at the end of 2019. “Only banks can play a central role in distributing the resources, which is a key part of the climate change challenge.”

*All loans are subject to approval, including credit approval. ©2020 BBVA USA Bancshares, Inc. BBVA and BBVA Compass are trade names of BBVA USA, a member of the BBVA Group. BBVA USA, Member FDIC.