One of the most important pillars of financing Hungarian small and medium-sized enterprises, the Széchenyi Card Program, achieved record performance in the first half of 2025. The banks participating in the program accepted 8,555 investment loan applications, totaling HUF 264.7 billion, which is a significant increase compared to previous periods.

The significance of the program in the SME sector

Since its launch in 1999, the Széchenyi Card Program has become one of the most successful business financing instruments in the Hungarian economy. The program aims to provide access to financing on preferential terms to small and medium-sized enterprises that would otherwise have difficulty obtaining bank loans.

The results of the first half of 2025 show that the program continues to play a key role in the development of the Hungarian SME sector. The loan volume of HUF 264.7 billion not only indicates the increase in the financing needs of enterprises, but also that both banks and enterprises trust in the effectiveness of the program.

Dominance of investment loans

The vast majority of loans provided under the program are for investment purposes, which is a particularly positive sign for the Hungarian economy. Investment loans directly contribute to the expansion of production capacities, technological developments and job creation.

The 8,555 investment loan requests mean that an average investment of nearly HUF 31 million is financed per loan request. This size fits well with the typical investment volume of the SME sector and allows enterprises to implement significant developments.

Benefits of the program

The Széchenyi Card Program is advantageous in several respects compared to traditional bank lending. On the one hand, it provides more favorable interest rates and on the other hand, it uses a simplified procedure, which is especially important for smaller businesses, which often do not have adequate collateral or creditworthiness.

The state guarantee of the program reduces the risk for banks, which allows them to provide loans to businesses that they would not otherwise finance. This is especially important for startups and innovative projects.

Regional and sectoral impacts

The regional impacts of the Széchenyi Card Program are also significant. A large part of the loans provided under the program go to rural areas, contributing to the reduction of regional inequalities. This is in line with the government’s ambition to ensure that the benefits of economic development are felt in all regions.

From a sectoral perspective, the program supports a wide range of sectors, from traditional industry to modern services. This diversification contributes to increasing the resilience of the Hungarian economy and modernizing the economic structure.

Digitalization and innovation support

A significant part of the projects financed under the program are related to digitalization and innovation. This is especially important in the current economic environment, where technological developments play a key role in maintaining competitiveness.

The Széchenyi Card Program supports the digital transformation of enterprises, the introduction of new technologies and the development of innovative business models. This contributes to the Hungarian SME sector being able to keep up with international trends.

Sustainability aspects

The program also places increasing emphasis on sustainability aspects. Environmentally friendly technologies, renewable energy projects and energy efficiency investments are given priority, which is in line with the European Union’s green transition goals.

This approach is not only beneficial from an environmental perspective, but also from a business perspective, as sustainable operations increasingly represent a competitive advantage in the market.

Future prospects

Based on the excellent results of the first half of 2025 of the Széchenyi Card Program, we can be optimistic about the future of the program. The growing loan volume and the high number of loan requests indicate that the program remains a relevant and effective tool in SME financing.

The continuous development of the program and its adaptation to the changing economic environment ensure that it continues to play a key role in supporting Hungarian small and medium-sized enterprises. The shift towards digitalization and sustainability contributes to the program providing an appropriate response to the challenges of the future.

Source: Széchenyi Card Program reports, Minister Márton Nagy’s Facebook page