Bankia S A : In 2020, Bankia has allocated 85 million to finance projects in the agricultural sector in La Rioja

• The financial institution formalised almost 520 transactions with agri-food companies in the region last year
• 'We wanted to respond to the financial needs of La Rioja's farmers during such a complex year and we want to continue doing so', said Bankia's Director of Agricultural Business in the North Region, Maite de Pablo
• The bank has a network of 22 branches specialising in the agricultural business in La Rioja, where it has one of the six Agro Regional Divisions present in Spain

Bankia has granted a total of 85 million euros in new financing to the agricultural sector during 2020 in La Rioja as part of its strategy to boost this line of activity and provide a service tailored to farmers in a complex year as the past one due to the economic crisis unleashed by the Coronavirus pandemic.

During the past year, the bank has formalised a total of 519 transactions for small, medium and large companies in this sector throughout the region.

'From the outset, we wanted to respond to the financial needs that farmers in La Rioja could have during such a complex year as the one we have endured and we want to continue to be by their side because for Bankia the agricultural sector and its professionals are a priority', ensured Bankia's Director of the Agricultural Business for the North Region, Maite de Pablo.

In mid-2020, Bankia announced the launch of a network of 22 branches specialised in the agricultural sector of La Rioja, where the North Region's Agricultural Directorate has its headquarters, one of the six regional directorates in Spain. The entity defined a new distribution model, having adapted branches in five other Regional Directorates: Andalucia, Valencia and Castellón, Murcia and Alicante, Castilla y León and Castilla La Mancha and Extremadura.

All Bankia's agricultural branches have their own image to distinguish them from regular branches and, while still providing the services they had been offering, they have a team specialised in the agri-food business.

In addition to specialised in-branch management, Bankia also provides the sector professionals with all its remote channels so they can do all their banking tasks without have to visit their branch. To do this, if offers the 'Connect with your expert' service and the option to make arrangements using online channels like the website and the mobile app.