National Australia Bank (NAB) has provided more than AUD 2 billion (USD 1.3 billion) in new green business lending, supporting companies across multiple sectors in their shift towards a low-carbon economy.
The financing forms part of NAB’s climate strategy and its goal to deliver AUD 80 billion in environmental financing between FY2024 and FY2030. The funds have backed projects ranging from energy-efficient equipment and electric vehicles to sustainable agriculture and commercial property upgrades.
Casey Morecroft, NAB’s Executive for Corporate Banking, said businesses were increasingly turning to green finance to cut costs, reduce emissions and enhance long-term resilience.
“Until recently, sustainable finance was mostly reserved for institutional clients because of high compliance costs and limited incentives,” Morecroft said. “Our Sustainable Finance team has changed that by simplifying products and building strategic partnerships that make green lending accessible. It’s exciting to see small and medium-sized enterprises now embracing these opportunities.”
She highlighted NAB’s collaboration with the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) and the introduction of emissions-based discounts on loans for equipment, vehicles and agribusinesses as key innovations that have broadened access to sustainable finance.
The commercial real estate (CRE) sector accounted for the largest share of NAB’s green financing in 2025. The NAB Green Finance for CRE programme, launched in 2024, supports investment in green buildings and retrofit projects that meet high environmental standards, including:
- Acquisition or ownership of buildings with NABERS Energy ratings of 5.5 stars or higher
- Development of new buildings achieving Green Star Design review ratings of 5 or above
- Retrofits targeting at least a 30% reduction in operating emissions intensity
One example is NAB’s refinancing support for Arrow Capital Partners’ The Zenith — two A-grade office towers in Chatswood, Sydney, each holding a 5.5-star NABERS Energy rating.
“We were specifically seeking a green loan to enhance our commitment to ESG initiatives across our portfolio,” said Martyn McCarthy, Managing Partner at Arrow Capital Partners. “Having a long-standing relationship with NAB made the process seamless and cost-effective.”
NAB also reported record green lending activity in agribusiness in July 2025, which included financing a reforestation and sustainable farming project in Tarago, New South Wales.
