Land
Bank
Bank
Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa
Land Bank Finance
Agriculture only R100k – R500m Two operating arms Season-linked terms
A bank built around one sector
Land Bank is a state-owned Development Finance Institution with a single sector mandate — agriculture. Everything about the balance sheet is structured around production and harvest cycles: seasonal loans peak with input purchases in spring, are drawn down over the growing season, and are repaid off the harvest. If you are a producer, an agri-input supplier, or an agri-processor, this is the bank engineered for you.
Two operating arms, two audiences
Commercial Development Business Bank
Established producers
- Production loans, season-linked
- Medium-term equipment finance (tractors, irrigation, cold-chain)
- Long-term mortgage loans on farmland
- Wholesale finance for co-operatives
- Risk-managed pricing at or near prime
Development Finance
New-generation & land-reform farmers
- Concessional pricing, below prime
- Blended Finance Scheme co-management with DALRRD
- Longer grace periods (up to 24 months on capex)
- Farm management support built into the loan
- Partners with CASP for infrastructure top-ups
The eight documents on every farm-plan checklist
Do not walk into a Land Bank enquiry without these. They are the base pack every relationship manager expects to see.
- Certified ID and CIPC docsOwner and directors' certified IDs plus your latest CoR.
- Farm plan and property descriptionErf / farm portion, hectares, current use, crop or livestock plan.
- Three-year cash-flow forecastSeason-mapped, showing input, production, and repayment.
- Off-take letter of intentFrom a mill, packer, retailer, or processor buying your output.
- Historical financialsThree years of AFS or management accounts if trading.
- Farm operator CVThe person running day-to-day operations, with references.
- Insurance quote or policyFarm-asset and crop insurance is compulsory on most facilities.
- Bond of Security or collateral proposalOver land, machinery, or a third-party guarantee.
Who Land Bank finances
- South African-registered producer, primary agri-processor, or agri-input supplier
- Existing or planned production activity that generates repayable cash flow
- SARS tax compliant and CIPC in good standing
- For development-finance applicants: valid PLAS lease, land-restitution award, or subdivision title deed
- Reasonable own contribution: 10-30% depending on facility type
Season timing matters. Applying to Land Bank in October for a summer-crop production loan is late. Winter-crop planning starts in February, summer-crop in July. Give the relationship manager 3-4 months lead time on new facilities.
Where to apply
Land Bank has offices in every province. Head office: 012 686 0500. Email [email protected]. Enquiry form and full product list at landbank.co.za.