HOUSTON, Sept. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — BBVA USA has launched a sustainability-focused commercial real estate loan for clients across its footprint, marking a milestone in the bank’s new 5-year strategic plan implemented in January 2020. The loan is designed to help small business owners with closing costs related to the purchase of commercial real estate, provided the property meets certain environmental sustainability standards. The loan is another step the bank is taking in support of the second pillar of its strategic plan – focusing on aligning business efforts with economic, social and environmental sustainability. “This product underscores both the economic and environmental concepts of the bank’s strategic plan,” said BBVA USA Small- to Medium-Enterprises Network Executive Elizabeth Dobers. “It helps small business owners build their business portfolio with savings on closing costs as well as their green portfolio by acquiring energy-efficient property. We’ve long been champions of small businesses, the economic backbone of this country, and this is another way we’re continuing that mentality, while encouraging sustainable behavior.” BBVA USA’s new sustainability-focused loan allows small business owners to receive a discount of 1 percent, up to $10,000, of their loan amount toward closing costs if they buy or build an energy-efficient building, or renovate an existing building to improve its energy efficiency. To qualify for the loan to build or purchase an existing building, the property must obtain one of the following certifications: LEED® green building program, National Green Building Standard™, Green Globes®, Living Building Challenge™, or ENERGY STAR™. If the loan is for a building renovation, the building must secure one of the previous certifications or achieve a verifiable 20 percent increase in efficiency from measures not required by building code, or can include adding an on-site renewable power system that supports at least 20 percent of the renovated building’s total electrical load. Click to read more at www.prnewswire.com.