Regional Investment Corporation

What Regional Investment Corporation does

Regional Investment Corporation (RIC) is a corporate Commonwealth entity of the Australian Government, established under the Regional Investment Corporation Act 2018 and headquartered in Orange, NSW. It operates as Australia's mandated specialist concessional lender to the agricultural sector, providing low-interest loans to eligible farm businesses, farm-related small businesses, and (since 2025/2026) South Australian aquaculture and wild catch fishing businesses affected by specific disaster events. RIC reports jointly to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Department of Finance, and is governed by an independent board chaired by Karen Smith-Pomeroy, with John Howard as CEO since November 2022.

RIC's product suite comprises six loan products: AgriStarter Loan (up to $2M for first-time farmers and succession arrangements), Farm Investment Loan (general business recovery and resilience), Drought Loan, AgBiz Drought Loan (up to $500k for non-farm small businesses in drought-affected areas), Drought Hardship Loan (up to $250k with a two-year repayment grace period for prolonged drought), and Marine Recovery Loan (for aquaculture and fishing businesses affected by the March 2025 South Australian harmful algal bloom). All loans share a 5.71% variable concessional interest rate (effective 1 August 2026), no application fees, no early-repayment penalties, and a typical 10-year term with 5 years interest-only followed by principal and interest. The current variable rate is the first rate increase in two years (from 5.18%).

The business model is non-commercial: the Australian Government does not aim to profit from RIC loans, and revenue (in the form of interest repayments) is used for cost recovery rather than margin generation. RIC distributes loans via an online application portal, downloadable PDF forms, a contact centre (1800 875 675), and a partnership with the Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS). Marketing is conducted through agricultural field days, Microsoft Teams-hosted webinars, the RIC Bulletin newsletter, and Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn channels. The Australian Government announced an additional $1 billion in new loan funding from 1 July 2026, materially expanding RIC's lending capacity. Independent economic modelling cited by RIC indicates that every $1M borrowed and repaid contributes an additional $1.1M to Gross Regional Product over the 10-year loan term.

Name

Regional Investment Corporation

Legal name

Regional Investment Corporation

Website

https://ric.gov.au

Company type

Public

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Regional Investment Corporation is an Australian Government corporate Commonwealth entity that provides low-interest concessional loans to eligible farm businesses, farm-related small businesses, and aquaculture/fishing enterprises across Australia, operating under a non-profit mandate.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Lending

SIC

Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) & Official Export Finance (FSABAKAC)

Keywords

• Agricultural lending
• Concessional farm loans
• Government farm finance
• Rural business lending
• Drought recovery loans

Headquarters

HQ city

Orange

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Loan Interest Revenue: RIC generates revenue through interest payments on concessional loans provided to eligible farm businesses. Interest rates are variable and reviewed semi-annually (February and August). Current rate is 5.71% effective 1 August 2026. The Australian Government does not aim to profit from RIC loans - they are designed to provide financial relief to farmers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Regional Investment Corporation (RIC) is an Australian Government corporate Commonwealth entity that provides low-interest, concessional loans to eligible Australian farm businesses and farm-related small businesses. Its product portfolio addresses drought preparedness and recovery, natural disaster and biosecurity impacts, farm succession, first-time farmer establishment, and marine environmental disasters affecting aquaculture and wild-catch fishing operations.

Product overview

Regional Investment Corporation offers a portfolio of six low-interest government loan products for Australian agriculture: AgriStarter Loan (for first farmers and succession), Farm Investment Loan (for general business recovery), Drought Loan (for drought preparedness/management), AgBiz Drought Loan (for farm-related small businesses), Drought Hardship Loan (for prolonged severe drought), and Marine Recovery Loan (for aquaculture/fishing after algal bloom). All loans feature competitive variable interest rates reviewed semi-annually, flexible repayment structures (typically 5 years interest-only followed by principal and interest), and no application fees or early repayment penalties. The loans are designed to provide financial breathing space for eligible farm businesses facing financial hardship from drought, natural disasters, or market disruptions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AgriStarter Loan Low-interest concessional loan assisting first-time farmers to purchase, establish or develop their first farm business and supporting farm succession arrangements. Maximum $2 million over a 10-year term with first 5 years interest-only. Targets eligible Australian farm businesses entering or transitioning the agricultural sector.
• Farm Investment Loan Low-interest concessional loan helping farm businesses recover from severe business disruption and prepare for future disruptions including natural disasters, biosecurity risks and market closures. 10-year term with first 5 years interest-only. For eligible Australian farm businesses.
• Drought Loan Low-interest concessional loan to help farmers prepare for, manage through and recover from drought. Requires a drought management plan. 10-year term with first 5 years interest-only. For eligible Australian farm businesses.
• AgBiz Drought Loan Low-interest concessional loan for non-farm small businesses that supply goods or services to primary production in drought-affected areas. Maximum $500,000, 10-year term with first 5 years interest-only. For small businesses (fewer than 20 employees) supporting farm businesses.
• Drought Hardship Loan Low-interest concessional loan for farm businesses experiencing prolonged drought of at least 2 years. Maximum $250,000 over a 5-year term, with nothing to pay for the first 2 years as interest accrues, then principal and interest repayments commence in year 3.
• Marine Recovery Loan Low-interest concessional loan supporting aquaculture and wild catch fishing businesses affected by the marine harmful algal bloom first detected in March 2025 off the coast of South Australia. 10-year term with first 5 years interest-only. For authorised aquaculture and wild catch fishing operators in South Australia.

Quantifiable outcome

• Every $1 million borrowed and repaid contributes an additional $1.1 million to Gross Regional Product over the 10-year loan term

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRFCS is an Australian Government program providing free and independent financial counselling to eligible businesses experiencing financial hardship. RFCS counsellors assist farmers and farm-related small businesses with understanding RIC loan options and completing loan applications. RIC recommends applicants engage with RFCS as part of the application preparation process.
• Commercial Banks and LenderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIC works alongside commercial agribusiness lenders to support farmers. Most RIC loan applicants must have existing commercial debt and obtain support from their commercial lender for the proposed RIC loan. Shared security arrangements often require Deeds of Priority between RIC and commercial lenders.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• AgFirst Farm Credit Bank: US Farm Credit System bank serving agricultural cooperatives and farmers across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic US. Comparable to RIC in lender mandate to primary producers, with similar concessional credit features supported by a federal backstop, though operating in a private cooperative ownership structure.
• Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (BNDES): Brazilian federal development bank providing long-term financing across sectors including agribusiness. Comparable to RIC in mandate (national development finance for productive sectors) and concessional lending profile, though operating at significantly larger scale and broader sector scope.
• AgriBank: Part of the US Farm Credit System, AgriBank funds and provides wholesale credit to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving Midwestern US agricultural producers. Comparable to RIC as a government-sponsored agricultural wholesale lender, though at much larger scale and operating under a cooperative model.
• Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC): Canadian federal Crown corporation providing financing, capital, and advisory services to Canadian small and medium-sized businesses, including in agriculture. Comparable as a government-backed development finance institution offering concessional credit to underserved sectors, though broader than agriculture alone.
• USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA): US federal agency administering farm loan, disaster relief, and conservation programs directly to American farmers and ranchers. Structurally analogous to RIC as a government agricultural credit provider, with overlapping mandates in disaster and operating loans for primary producers.
• Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation (Farm Credit System): US federally-sponsored enterprise that funds and oversees the nationwide Farm Credit System — a network of banks and associations lending to US agricultural producers. Structurally analogous to RIC as a government-backed agricultural credit system, but materially larger in scale and operating in a privatised cooperative model.

Direct peers

• Rabobank: Major global cooperative bank headquartered in the Netherlands with Food & Agribusiness as its primary global focus and substantial Australian/NZ ag lending footprint. Comparable to RIC in target customer base (farmers), but operating as a private cooperative rather than government entity and at materially larger scale.
• NSW Rural Assistance Authority: NSW state government agency administering drought, flood, and farm assistance loans to NSW primary producers, including interest-free and concessional loans. Most directly comparable Australian peer to RIC's mandate, though sub-national in scope and overlapping in target customer base.

Others

• China Development Bank: Chinese policy bank providing large-scale concessional financing to designated strategic sectors including agriculture and rural development under state-directed mandates. Comparable to RIC only at the conceptual level as a state-directed development finance institution; materially different in scope and governance.

Regional players

• Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank: Germany's federal development bank for agriculture and rural areas, providing low-interest promotional loans via commercial banks to German farmers. Closest international analogue to RIC in terms of statutory DFI-style mandate, concessional pricing, and program-based lending.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ricgovau
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/14515139
• Instagraminstagram.com/ric_gov_au

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Regional Investment Corporation