IFC boosts access to housing for women with a US$100 million loan to Banco Security

Santiago, Chile, October 27, 2025 — The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), announced the signing of a US$100 million loan to Banco Security to strengthen its mortgage lending portfolio, with a focus on housing loans for women. The operation aims to expand and diversify the Bank’s long-term funding sources while supporting the sustainable growth of Chile’s housing market.

A gender gap in access to mortgage financing persists in the country. According to data from Chile’s Financial Market Commission (CMF), only 41% of mortgage loans are granted to women, reflecting structural challenges linked to wage inequality and lower female participation in the labor force.

By facilitating access to mortgage credit, IFC’s initiative helps stimulate housing construction and job creation across the sector’s value chain, from construction and related services to materials manufacturing. This approach aligns with the World Bank Group’s strategy to promote inclusive, private sector–led growth that drives sustainable economic opportunities.

“Expanding women’s access to mortgage loans not only reduces gender gaps but also generates jobs and boosts local economies,” said Helena de la Torre, IFC’s Manager for Financial Institutions in Brazil and the Southern Cone. 

Meanwhile, Jean-Marc Arbogast, WBG Country Manager for Chile, added: “Through this financing to Banco Security, we reaffirm our commitment to promoting greater financial inclusion and supporting sustainable solutions that improve families’ quality of life in Chile.”

Pablo Jerez, CEO of Banco Security, highlighted that “for Banco Security, this is a significant step—especially in the context of our merger with Banco BICE, which in 2024 received the same type of financing. That previous experience is a key asset, allowing us to integrate best practices, lessons learned, and a shared vision regarding the role of banks in reducing financial access gaps and promoting women’s economic autonomy.”

Marcelo Espinoza, Head of Finance and Corporate Division at Banco Security, noted that when an institution “like IFC supports a financial entity with financing of this kind, it sends a strong signal of trust and commitment with the country’s sustainable development. This agreement is a catalyst for banks like ours to actively promote financial inclusion by facilitating access to mortgage credit for more women.”

Through this project, the WBG seeks to strengthen financial and gender inclusion within Chile’s banking system, demonstrating the viability and positive impact of integrating a gender lens into mortgage lending—with the potential to replicate this model in other markets.