State-run Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) rolled out a new lending program to empower micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and their partner financial institutions with accessible financing and capacity-building support. The bank said its LandBank's Innovative Financing Thrust Towards Inclusive National Growth thru Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, or the LIFTING MSMEs Lending Program, allows eligible borrowers to use loan proceeds for working capital, business expansion, equipment purchase or upgrade, renovation, digitalization, franchising, export and trade finance, and green or sustainable projects. The program offers three loan packages. The start-up loan, ranging from P100,000 to P500,000, is designed for start-ups and microenterprises with less than one year of operation. It comes with free financial literacy training, minimal collateral requirements, and low welcome interest rates. For micro and small enterprises with at least one year in operation, LandBank said the step-up loan provides between PHP500,000 and PHP5 million in financing, with added benefits such as free training, interest rate reductions, provision of Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal, and eligibility to transition to higher financing. The level-up loan, meanwhile, which is available to small and medium enterprises with more than three years of operations, offers up to PHP50 million. It provides strategic funding to scale businesses further, coupled with lower interest rates and access to a LandBank corporate credit card. Under the program, LandBank also extends a rediscounting line to credit cooperatives, rural banks, and microfinance institutions (MFIs) that provide loan services to MSMEs to boost their lending capacity, covering up to 85 percent of outstanding receivables. “MSMEs are the backbone of the Philippine economy, making up 99.6 percent of total business establishments and employing 65% of the total workforce. Every loan extended to an MSME creates a ripple effect — sustaining jobs, uplifting families, and strengthening communities. Through the LIFTING MSMEs Lending Program, LandBank is fueling this multiplier effect to accelerate inclusive and sustainable growth across the nation,” said LandBank President and CEO Lynette Ortiz. Interested borrowers may apply for the LIFTING MSMEs Lending Program through the bank's Business Loan Application portal, an online platform where loan applicants can directly submit their applications without the need for manual intervention. The portal allows applicants to complete application forms, upload required documents, track the status of their application, and is accessible 24/7 through the LandBank website at https://www.landbank.com. LANDBANK PHOTO