EUR2.5 million EIF guarantee under InvestEU to unlock new financing for education and skills in Greece.
Up to EUR3.57 million in expected financing to support around 180 loans, helping expand access to education and skills development.
Students and learners, alongside organisations and businesses investing in skills, to benefit from improved access to finance for education, training and upskilling
The European Investment Fund (EIF), part of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group, and Alpha Bank are joining forces under the European Union's InvestEU programme to expand access to finance for education and skills development in Greece.
Under the new agreement, the EIF will provide a capped direct guarantee to Alpha Bank under the InvestEU Microfinance, Social and Skills Guarantee Product - Skills and Education portfolio. The guarantee will support financing for students and learners, as well as businesses and organisations active in education, training and skills development.
The agreement provides for a maximum guarantee volume of EUR2.5 million that is expected to support approximately 180 transactions for a total of up to EUR3.57 million in financing and an average transaction size of approximately EUR20,000.
The financing will be available to eligible final recipients including:
students and learners, supporting access to education, training and skills development;
businesses investing in the training and upskilling of their employees;
organisations active in the skills, education and training sectors; and
organisations providing services ancillary to skills, education and training.
The EIF guarantee will enhance access to finance for eligible final recipients by enabling Alpha Bank to take the benefit of the guarantee into account in its pricing. This is expected to result in a reduction in the risk spread applied to eligible financing.
The operation will contribute to the development of the education finance market in Greece and support investment in human capital, skills and lifelong learning. It will also help people and organisations respond to evolving skills needs and changing labour market conditions.
A strong economy starts with people who have the knowledge and skills to shape its future. By supporting investment in education and lifelong learning, we are helping create opportunities for people while strengthening the foundations of Greece's long-term competitiveness. '
Yannis Tsakiris, EIB Vice-President
'Through InvestEU and our partnership with Alpha Bank, we are helping bring education finance to a wider range of students, learners and organisations across Greece.' said EIB Vice-President Yannis Tsakiris.
Nothing that we support, from technological innovation to climate solutions, will succeed in the long run without continued investment in education and skills. '
Merete Clausen, EIF Deputy Chief Executive
'That is why the EIF, together with the European Commission and financial partners such as Alpha Bank, will continue to engage in initiatives like this one, helping individuals and businesses to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.', said Merete Clausen, EIF Deputy Chief Executive.
'We believe that access to education and skills development is a fundamental driver of social progress, business resilience and sustainable economic growth. Through our partnership with the European Investment Fund under InvestEU, we are creating more favorable financing opportunities for students and lifelong learners, while also empowering businesses to invest in the training and upskilling of their workforce. By doing so, we support individuals in enhancing their future prospects and help Greek enterprises adapt more effectively to the evolving demands of the labor market and the wider economy,' said Georgios Tsagkarakis, Head of Small Business Products at Alpha Bank.
Background information
The EIB Group
The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group is the financing arm of the European Union, owned by the 27 Member States, and one of the largest multilateral development banks in the world. In 2025, the EIB Group signed EUR100 billion in new financing and advisory services for over 870 high-impact projects under eight core priorities that support EU policy objectives: climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, territorial cohesion, agriculture and the bioeconomy, social infrastructure, strong global partnerships and the savings and investments union. Beyond long-term loans for large infrastructure, the EIB Group crowds in private investment for high-risk innovative projects and businesses, with a growing role in Europe's markets for venture debt, venture capital, guarantees and securitisations.
The European Investment Fund (EIF) is the subsidiary of the EIB Group specialised in providing guarantees, securitisation and equity to improve access to finance for small and medium-sized businesses and startups across Europe. Acting as an anchor investor, through its extensive network of partnering banks and investment funds, the EIF mobilises private investment and nurtures the ecosystem of venture capital funds to support innovative European entrepreneurs.
With the support of all 27 EU governments, the EIF has joined forces with institutional investors in a pan-European alliance to mobilise up to EUR80 billion for investment into innovative companies scaling up to become global leaders. The joint effort will expand the size and scope of the highly successful European Tech Champions Initiative(ETCI), which has helped create 15 European mega-funds and scale 45 companies, including 12 unicorns, since being established three years ago.
Photos of the EIB Group's representatives and headquarters, logo files and video B-roll for media use are available here.
About InvestEU
The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable recovery. It also helps to crowd-in private investment for the European Union's strategic priorities such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. InvestEU brings all EU financial instruments previously available for supporting investments within the European Union together under one roof, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible.
The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub, and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is deployed through implementing partners that will invest in projects using the EU budget guarantee of EUR26.2 billion. The entire budget guarantee will back the investment projects of the implementing partners, increase their risk-bearing capacity and thus mobilise at least EUR372 billion in additional investment.
About Alpha Bank
Founded in 1879 by J.F. Costopoulos, Alpha Bank stands today as one of Greece's largest financial institutions and is the country's oldest privately owned bank. With a continuous presence on the Athens Stock Exchange since 1925, Alpha Bank operates across Greece, Cyprus, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom with a comprehensive portfolio of financial products and services.
Positioned as Greece's Bank of Entrepreneurship, Alpha Bank serves as the primary financial partner for 80% of the country's large enterprises and 65% of small and medium-sized businesses. The Bank has developed strong expertise in key economic sectors, including tourism, shipping and energy, while investing heavily in human capital and digital innovation to deliver personalized and market-leading financial solutions.
With UniCredit, one of the largest European banking groups, as a strategic partner, Alpha Bank provides Greek businesses with access to a network of 13 European markets.
Guided by its corporate purpose - to enable progress in life and business for a better tomorrow - Alpha Bank is leading the transition of the Greek economy to a sustainable and resilient growth model, while engaging with customers and communities to foster an equitable and inclusive society.
Press contacts
press contacts
Elizabeth Zitouniati
EIBG Press
e.zitouniati@ext.eib.org
+306981786660
EIB Press Office
+352 4379 21000
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