IFC and Santander Brazil are partnering to catalyze the Eco Invest Program, expanding sustainable financing in Brazil

São Paulo, April 16^th, 2026 - The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, and Banco Santander Brasil announced a partnership to support the Eco Invest program, an initiative by the Brazilian government that aims to attract foreign private investors to support Brazil’s transition to a resilient, sustainable economy.

Through this support for the Eco Invest initiative, IFC will help expand Santander’s ability to offer more affordable financing to sustainable projects eligible under the program’s criteria, in sectors such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable construction, clean transportation, and agribusiness resilience. IFC’s $250 million financial package to Santander comprises $150 million from IFC’s own account and $100 million mobilized from international commercial banks. 

"The partnership with IFC reinforces Santander's commitment to mobilizing international capital to drive sustainable projects in Brazil. The Eco Invest Program is a strategic instrument to broaden access to competitive, long-term financing, strengthening the country's transition to a low-carbon economy,” said Sandro Sobral, director of Asset Liability Management (ALM) at Santander.

“Our partnership with Santander to support the Eco Invest program taps into IFC’s structuring expertise in mobilizing international private capital for high-impact projects,” said Manuel Reyes Retana, IFC’s division director for Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. “IFC aims to leverage private capital and innovative local-currency solutions to expand investments that foster sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Brazil.”

IFC estimates that Brazil’s transition to a resilient, green economy will require about $1.3 trillion in investment from 2016 to 2030 across sectors critical to growth and job creation[1]. This collaboration with Santander will help the Eco Invest initiative meet its goal of unlocking sustainable private investment and attracting long-term foreign capital to support strategic projects in green infrastructure, biome restoration, climate mitigation and adaptation, and ecological innovation, among others. The program, coordinated by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, uses innovative financial instruments to offer protection and predictability for investors against exchange-rate fluctuations. For more information, visit the Eco Invest Brazil page.

This new collaboration follows two recent IFC investments in Santander ̶ a social bond launched in 2024 to improve access to finance for microentrepreneurs across the country and small and medium enterprises in the North and Northeast, and a blue loan launched last year. IFC’s partnership with Santander Brasil aligns with the World Bank Group’s Country Partnership Framework for Brazil by supporting enhanced competitiveness and reduced vulnerability to climate risks, while promoting the sustainability of Brazil’s financial system.

About Santander Brasil

Santander Brasil (SANB11) began its operations in the country in 1982 and, through more than 70 banking mergers and acquisitions, has built competitive wholesale and retail structures. It is part of the Santander Group, one of the largest financial conglomerates in the world by market capitalization, with a strong presence in ten key countries across Europe and the Americas.

The only international financial institution with a significant presence in Brazilian retail banking, it has more than 56,000 employees and 2,200 branches and banking service points (PABs), serving nearly 70 million customers. For more information, visit: www.santander.com.br.

[1] Climate Investment Opportunities in Emerging Markets: An IFC Analysis