The group said that its relationship managers speak to nearly 5,000 small businesses each and every week and have already reached out to more than 10,000 SMEs to discuss any concerns they already have on the potential impact a sustained COVID-19 outbreak may have on their business.

This additional financial support, which has now been confirmed for small business customers with up to £25 million turnover, will include the removal of certain fees and the possibility of payment holidays for the worst affected.

Although the current impact on businesses has been minimal, as the number and rate of infections in the UK increases, Lloyds Banking Group wants to reassure its customers that it continues to stand by their side and will provide them with additional financial support as required.

Earlier this week, RBS launched its own £250m support fund for SMEs across Scotland affected by the virus. 

It is anticipated that a sustained and wide-scale outbreak in the UK will impact businesses and in particular their cashflows, as interruptions to their supply chain or significant employee absence will severely impact their ability to generate sales and result in reduced revenues.

Under this £2bn financial support, Lloyds Banking Group’s small business customers can access:

• No arrangement fees for new overdrafts or overdraft limit increases
• No arrangement fees for new or increased invoice discounting and finance facilities
• In certain circumstances, repayment holidays to be provided, to those businesses impacted the most
• All customers with a dedicated Relationship Manager will be contacted to discuss their financial needs.

This package of measures is another example of Lloyds Banking Group’s long-standing support for British businesses to help them navigate whatever the future holds.

In January this year, the Group announced an £18bn commitment to support businesses during 2020. In addition, since the start of 2011, the group has grown its net lending to small and medium-sized businesses by 36% whilst the market has contracted by 11%.

David Oldfield, group director, commercial banking, Lloyds Banking Group, said: “We fully understand how worrying these times are for business owners, concerned not only about their and their own family’s health and wellbeing, but also of their employees. They are also worried what the outbreak might mean for their business and with no knowledge of how or when they might be affected.

“As our customers face into such uncertainty, we want to provide reassurance to them that, if needed, we are here to help with additional working capital to get them through temporary interruptions to their business and to their cashflow.”