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HSBC launches £450 million fund to support Scottish SMEs

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hsbcHSBC has today launched a £450 million lending fund to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Scotland as part of a broader commitment to make banking cheaper and simpler for its customers.

The £450 million fund is the largest package of support to be announced by HSBC for SMEs in Scotland.

It has been introduced to meet growing SME demand across the country and is a significant increase from the £400 million fund allocated to Scotland in 2015.

HSBC’s 2016 SME Fund and broader package of support for Scottish SMEs includes:

  • A £450 million fund available for Scottish SMEs

  • A free banking offer of up to 18 months for start-ups and 12 months for switchers

  • The introduction of year-long fixed-price £5.50 monthly account tariff, to commence at the end of a customer’s initial free banking period

  • Changes that will make banking cheaper for our customers: a reduction in the Personal Guarantee Fee from £80 to £10 for any lending facility above £10,000

  • The launch of the Business Lending Eligibility Checker (BLEC) – an online tool offering potential new customers a credit decision in principle for loans of up to £30,000 in under two minutes

  • A free text alert service for informal overdrafts, which will help customers avoid paying informal overdraft fees and interest.

    • Susan Rowand
    Susan Rowand

    Susan Rowand, HSBC’s head of business banking in Scotland, said: “We want to be the bank of choice for Scottish SMEs, reinforced through our desire to lend more to local businesses, by committing the funds to do so, and by making banking easier and cheaper to help our customers grow. There is a strong desire from ambitious local SMEs to grow their businesses, and we are responding by ensuring HSBC is providing the funds they need to realise these ambitions.”

    HSBC’s head of UK commercial banking, Ian Stuart, said: “Right across the UK there is a wide range of innovative new and established SMEs, proving that location is no barrier to a great business idea. SMEs are the driving force of the UK economy and we are here to support them, whether they are a start-up or established business, focused either on the domestic market or looking to trade internationally. This fund underpins our support by putting SMEs in a stronger position to be making investments that will stimulate local economies and create more jobs.”

    Small Business Minister, Anna Soubry has encouraged small businesses to capitalise on the services being offered by lenders to support their growth.

    He said: “We have a record number of small businesses driving our growing economy and while the picture is improving, access to finance remains an issue for many of them. It’s absolutely right that banks such as HSBC continue to develop their support for smaller businesses. I also want to see more of these businesses taking advantage of what’s on offer, both from banks and alternative lenders, to help them grow, invest and create jobs for people.”

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