HSBC (Costa Rica) S.A. was established in the early 1980s under the name Banco Agro Industrial de Exportaciones S.A. (hereinafter “Banex”). From the Bank’s founding up to the present day, partnerships, mergers, and operations have helped consolidate its current market position and standing. Today, HSBC CR is the third-largest private bank in the country with assets equivalent to US$1.25billion, 31 branches, and 106 ATMs, as well as more than 500 additional ATMs that serve the HSBC network. The purpose of the project is to finance leasing, factoring, and working capital operations for Costa Rican SMEs. After reducing the size of its loan portfolio over the past 18 months, HSBC CR is launching a growth strategy targeting Costa Rica’s SME sector. The resources of the IIC are an important component of the strategy. The loan proceeds will be used for the direct financing of eligible enterprises, which must satisfy the eligibility criteria established by the IIC.