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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Banks to face small firm showdown | Banks to face small firm showdown |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The government is to bring together bank bosses and small business representatives to "thrash out" differences between them. | The government is to bring together bank bosses and small business representatives to "thrash out" differences between them. |
| Plans for the forum follow a meeting by chief executives of UK High Street banks, Chancellor Alistair Darling and Business Secretary Lord Mandelson. | Plans for the forum follow a meeting by chief executives of UK High Street banks, Chancellor Alistair Darling and Business Secretary Lord Mandelson. |
| As a condition of the £37bn government bail-out, RBS, HBOS and Lloyds TSB must continue lending at 2007 levels. | As a condition of the £37bn government bail-out, RBS, HBOS and Lloyds TSB must continue lending at 2007 levels. |
| But many firms have said the recent terms offered by banks have worsened. | But many firms have said the recent terms offered by banks have worsened. |
| Lord Mandelson said the forum - to be set up in the next few weeks - would hopefully help ease tensions between the two sides. | Lord Mandelson said the forum - to be set up in the next few weeks - would hopefully help ease tensions between the two sides. |
| "Where there are issues about the availability of lending and the terms of lending, they can thrash these out and tease out the problems," he added. | "Where there are issues about the availability of lending and the terms of lending, they can thrash these out and tease out the problems," he added. |
| "There's willingness to make sure that we get through these very difficult times. Banks do not want to pull the plug on small business unnecessarily - they want to help where they can, but banks are facing difficult conditions of their own." | "There's willingness to make sure that we get through these very difficult times. Banks do not want to pull the plug on small business unnecessarily - they want to help where they can, but banks are facing difficult conditions of their own." |
| Deal delays | Deal delays |
| We asked for [extra money] six weeks ago but...they said no. In the past they've extended loans when I've asked for them Martin Sutton, MJS Engineering Some small firms refused loans | |
| Earlier this week, Lord Mandelson told a Business Select Committee hearing there was anecdotal evidence that smaller businesses were being hit with a "double whammy" by some banks - being asked for more security and higher interest payments on loans, while also paying extra charges. | Earlier this week, Lord Mandelson told a Business Select Committee hearing there was anecdotal evidence that smaller businesses were being hit with a "double whammy" by some banks - being asked for more security and higher interest payments on loans, while also paying extra charges. |
| And the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said that firms were finding it increasingly difficult to access funding. | And the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said that firms were finding it increasingly difficult to access funding. |
| "The cost of money is undoubtedly higher than it was and we see no evidence of it coming down," said the BCC's director general David Frost. | "The cost of money is undoubtedly higher than it was and we see no evidence of it coming down," said the BCC's director general David Frost. |
| "Banks are charging for services that were previously parts of the deal," he added. | "Banks are charging for services that were previously parts of the deal," he added. |
| "And the idea of relationship banking is breaking down. Everything is going through regional offices and it is taking much longer to get the OK on a loan or an overdraft." | "And the idea of relationship banking is breaking down. Everything is going through regional offices and it is taking much longer to get the OK on a loan or an overdraft." |
| No quick turnaround | No quick turnaround |
| A member of the Bank of England's rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee said it could be months before firms began to feel the benefits of measures planned to tackle the credit crisis. | A member of the Bank of England's rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee said it could be months before firms began to feel the benefits of measures planned to tackle the credit crisis. |
| "The banks need to feel that they are in a better position... I wouldn't necessarily expect that to turn around very quickly," Kate Barker said in an interview with finance website www.thebusinessdesk.com. | "The banks need to feel that they are in a better position... I wouldn't necessarily expect that to turn around very quickly," Kate Barker said in an interview with finance website www.thebusinessdesk.com. |
| "We would certainly hope over the next few months that the actions that have been taken start to feed through to businesses because we certainly realise that small businesses particularly are finding it much more difficult." | "We would certainly hope over the next few months that the actions that have been taken start to feed through to businesses because we certainly realise that small businesses particularly are finding it much more difficult." |
| And Ms Barker warned that banks' lending policies were "not going to go back to how it was prior to this crisis starting". | And Ms Barker warned that banks' lending policies were "not going to go back to how it was prior to this crisis starting". |
| Loans increase | Loans increase |
| The body representing the UK's main high street banks said the industry was "committed to helping businesses through the economic downturn". | The body representing the UK's main high street banks said the industry was "committed to helping businesses through the economic downturn". |
| Behind every successful entrepreneur, there has been an initial helpful relationship with a bank manager who shares the business vision Angela KnightBritish Bankers' Association | Behind every successful entrepreneur, there has been an initial helpful relationship with a bank manager who shares the business vision Angela KnightBritish Bankers' Association |
| But the British Bankers' Association (BBA) said that in a recession, some firms would "inevitably" fail, and it urged businesses to review their plans and engage with their bank to put themselves in a stronger position. | But the British Bankers' Association (BBA) said that in a recession, some firms would "inevitably" fail, and it urged businesses to review their plans and engage with their bank to put themselves in a stronger position. |
| The BBA said it was continuing to finance firms. In the year to June 2008, it said, the amount of business loans provided by its members grew by 11% to £44bn, while overdrafts grew by 3% to £9.2bn. | The BBA said it was continuing to finance firms. In the year to June 2008, it said, the amount of business loans provided by its members grew by 11% to £44bn, while overdrafts grew by 3% to £9.2bn. |
| "The UK banking industry has always been and remains a strong supporter of small businesses," said BBA chief executive Angela Knight. | "The UK banking industry has always been and remains a strong supporter of small businesses," said BBA chief executive Angela Knight. |
| "Behind every successful entrepreneur, there has been an initial helpful relationship with a bank manager who shares the business vision. | "Behind every successful entrepreneur, there has been an initial helpful relationship with a bank manager who shares the business vision. |
| "Banks are proud to be working actively in this essential stratum of the UK economy." | "Banks are proud to be working actively in this essential stratum of the UK economy." |
| Do you own a small business? Have you had problems with your bank? Send us your story using the form below: | Do you own a small business? Have you had problems with your bank? Send us your story using the form below: |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |