I&M Bank Rwanda proactively sought advisory from GET.invest EDGE Finance to build the Bank’s SME product suite, complementing its existing strengths in other areas, including strong corporate banking relationships. In addition, it aimed to develop a dedicated electric vehicle asset finance offering.
I&M Bank Rwanda first to complete EDGE Finance support, driving green energy lending
I&M Bank Rwanda
Key figures
Country
Rwanda
Areas covered
Financing for commercial and industrial (C&I), e-mobility, green SME and gender-inclusive green lending
Number of staff engaged
21
I&M Bank Rwanda first to complete EDGE Finance support, driving green energy lending
I&M Bank Rwanda
About
With over 150,000 customers and 20 branches, I&M Bank Rwanda (part of I&M Group) is one of the leading commercial banks in the country. Embedding sustainability across its business and value chain to positively impact its stakeholders is a central pillar of the Bank’s strategy, reflected through strong leadership and a commitment to scaling green finance.
As a result, I&M Bank Rwanda not only aims at developing innovative products for retail and SMEs, but also at deepening its in-house expertise to finance renewable energy projects such as solar farms, green energy plants and hydroelectric facilities.
These efforts are in line with Rwanda’s National Climate and Nature Finance Strategy 2024-30, which envisions scaling private green investment in the country by 2035. Furthermore, the Green Taxonomy roadmap, launched in 2025, presents an opportune moment to position the Bank as a leader in sustainable finance.
Our support
"Green finance is not just a priority – it's a responsibility. By shaping Rwanda’s Green Taxonomy and building one of the country’s strongest green finance teams, we are leading sustainable transformation. Through e-mobility financing, green asset finance, and climate-aligned contract financing, we show that a low-carbon, climate-resilient future is not only possible, but bankable."
EDGE Finance’s capacity building support to I&M Bank Rwanda consisted of two main components – highly tailored advisory delivered by a team of banking and green energy experts, and an online training with predetermined modules covering financial aspects of green energy. In turn, the Bank appointed a dedicated working group comprising senior and operational level staff as key anchors for the initiative.
During implementation, the EDGE Finance advisors held sessions on green energy financing market opportunities, involving the Bank’s Executive Committee and wider staff. The team also accompanied working group members on market visits to local green energy system suppliers. The final leg of the implementation included an internal workshop to select and approve priority green energy products, thereby moving from awareness building to concrete product development and approval.
The outcome
Following a six-month training cycle, I&M Bank Rwanda became the first financial institution to successfully complete a bank-wide implementation of EDGE Finance, where 21 of the Bank’s professionals received advisory and training support. The training concluded with tangible outcomes, including the approval of three green finance pilot products focused on Commercial & Industrial (C&I), invoice financing and e-mobility. The collaboration also generated strong internal momentum from the I&M Bank Group Sustainability Committee, sparking interest in extending the approach to other banks of the Group, particularly I&M Bank Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. I&M Bank’s new green finance products will be listed on the GET.invest Funding Database, increasing its visibility among green energy companies and project developers.
Disclaimer: This story was last updated in April 2026.
