NRW.BANK Start-Up Loan: Microloan & Start-Up and Growth Loan

What Is the NRW.BANK Start-Up Loan?

“NRW.BANK Gründerkredit” (start-up loan) is the umbrella term for NRW.BANK’s development loans for start-ups: above all the NRW.Mikrodarlehen (smaller projects) and NRW.BANK.Gründung und Wachstum (higher needs). They complement the federal programs of KfW.

The ERP Start-up Loan (ERP-Gründerkredit, StartGeld) is a KfW program and not one of them.

What Is the NRW.Mikrodarlehen?

The NRW.Mikrodarlehen is a development loan of up to €50,000 for founders and young businesses in NRW, with up to 100% financing, a 10-year fixed interest rate, and no standard bank collateral. It is applied for through a STARTERCENTER NRW, not through the house bank.

Businesses with a non-profit orientation can additionally receive a 20% repayment waiver (Tilgungserlass).

Who Is the NRW.Mikrodarlehen Suitable For?

For start-ups and young businesses (up to 5 years after launch) with modest capital requirements of up to €50,000, especially if equity or collateral is missing.

What Is NRW.BANK.Gründung und Wachstum?

NRW.BANK.Gründung und Wachstum (start-up and growth loan; since January 1, 2022, formerly NRW.BANK.Gründungskredit and NRW.BANK.Mittelstandskredit) is a low-interest development loan for founders, young and established small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and freelancers, including as a side business. It finances investments and working capital for start-ups, succession, and consolidation in NRW and runs through your house bank (house bank principle, Hausbankprinzip).

The maximum amount is €10 million, and up to 100% of the eligible costs can be financed. The term is 5, 10, or 20 years, with one to three repayment-free start-up years. For working capital it is 5 years with one repayment-free year. The interest rate is fixed for the entire term at 5 and 10 years, and for the first 10 years at 20 years. It is particularly low, among others, for founders and young companies that have been on the market for less than 5 years. Which interest rate applies depends on your creditworthiness and collateral. The NRW.BANK terms overview is authoritative.

On request, NRW.BANK can relieve your house bank with a liability exemption (Haftungsfreistellung) of 50%. This is available for loans for investments and working capital from €125,000. For even larger or broader projects there is also the NRW.BANK.Universalkredit. A combination with the KfW program ERP Start-up Loan (StartGeld) is not possible.

NRW.BANK or KfW: What Is the Difference?

KfW is the federal development bank, NRW.BANK that of the state of NRW. Both work through the house bank principle and can be combined. The NRW.Mikrodarlehen, however, is applied for directly through the STARTERCENTER NRW.

In practice we review which combination of KfW StartGeld, NRW.Mikrodarlehen, and guarantee finances your project most favorably.

Can I Get NRW.BANK Funding Without Equity or Collateral?

Yes, the NRW.Mikrodarlehen finances up to 100% without standard bank collateral. For larger loans where collateral is missing, Bürgschaftsbank NRW covers up to 80% of the risk.

How Do I Apply for the NRW.BANK Start-Up Loan?

You apply for the NRW.Mikrodarlehen through a STARTERCENTER NRW; for NRW.BANK.Gründung und Wachstum, through your house bank before the project begins. In both cases the basis is a viable business plan with a financial plan.

Note: We are start-up consultants, not a bank. We prepare your documents to be bankable and accompany you to the right contact point in NRW.

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