Mr. Niranjan Vivekanandan reports

RBC AND BDC COLLABORATE TO EXPAND ACCESS TO FINANCING FOR ENTREPRENEURS

Royal Bank of Canada is joining Business Development Bank of Canada's business accelerator loan program -- an innovative financing solution that helps small- and medium-sized businesses access the financing they need to grow their business.

Through BDC's business accelerator loan program, RBC will deliver up to $500,000 in financing to qualifying Canadian businesses, backed by a BDC guarantee. Available to businesses with less than $10-million in revenue that have been operational for over 12 consecutive months, the program expands access to financing for growing businesses that may not qualify for traditional lending. The financing can be used to finance operating cash flow needs.

"With the business accelerator loan program, we're giving more entrepreneurs the financing they need to turn their ideas into action and build viable businesses," said Niranjan Vivekanandan, executive vice-president and chief operating officer, RBC commercial banking. "We're proud to collaborate with BDC on an inclusive and accessible funding solution that supports their long-term resilience in an evolving economic landscape."

This collaboration reflects RBC's commitment to supporting entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey. RBC offers a range of solutions, financing and advice tailored to meet the unique needs of small- and medium-sized businesses, including beyond banking services that go beyond traditional banking. In 2025, RBC was named the best SME bank in Canada and in North America by Global Finance, marking the fourth consecutive year it has received this distinction.

"We're delighted to see RBC joining our list of trusted community banking partners, allowing us to reach more entrepreneurs who need that extra financing to move their business forward," said Miguel Barrieras, chief community banking and impact officer of BDC. "We know we can't leave any entrepreneurship potential behind. That is what we are focused on."

About Royal Bank of Canada

Royal Bank is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Its success comes from the 97,000-plus employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring its vision, values and strategy to life so it can help its clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, it has a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to its more than 19 million clients in Canada, the United States and 27 other countries.