3rd May 2018
Scheme designed to help SMEs who are struggling to access finance
Ulster Bank has announced it is the first bank open for applications for the new Credit Guarantee Scheme provided by the Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation. The Government initiative aims to help commercially viable SMEs who are finding it challenging to access finance through traditional channels.
The funding is aimed at SMEs that may have insufficient collateral and/or a perception of higher risk. The key features include facilities of between €10,000 and €1 million, terms of up to seven years, as well as Term Loans, Demand Loans and Performance Bonds.
Eligibility
An eligible business must:
- Be an SME (an enterprise that has fewer than 250 employees and either an annual turnover not exceeding €50m or an annual Balance Sheet total not exceeding €43m) from an eligible industry in the Republic of Ireland.
- Be involved in a commercial activity.
- Have a viable proposal.
- Have the ability to repay.
Making the announcement, Managing Director, Commercial Banking Division, Ulster Bank, Eddie Cullen said:
“Ulster Bank is delighted to be the first bank to offer the new Credit Guarantee Scheme as part of a number of supports to business customers. It’s particularly important because it is specifically designed for SMEs that may be finding it hard to access finance. We understand that every business is different and has unique requirements and it is important that we offer both sectoral expertise and specialist financing such as the SBCI scheme to ensure we are providing meaningful help to the very businesses that are driving the economy.”
Minister of State at the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr. Pat Breen, T.D. said:
I welcome the announcement of the launch of the new Credit Guarantee Scheme through Ulster Bank. The previous Credit Guarantee Scheme has been very successful with 560 facilities totalling €88.8 million sanctioned since it was launched in 2012, supporting 3,519 jobs. The new scheme has been expanded to provide even greater support for Irish SMEs to sustain and grow their businesses and increase the number of job opportunities across the country. I look forward to continuing our relationship with Ulster Bank with this new launch to increase the availability of finance to Irish SMEs.”
Further details on the Credit Guarantee Scheme can be accessed on the websites of both Department www.dbei.gov.ie and the SBCI www.sbci.gov.ie
Businesses interested in applying for funding can go to https://digital.ulsterbank.ie/business/accounts-and-services/business-lending/alternative-sources-of-finance.html or they can contact Ulster Bank Business Direct on 1850 211 690.
ENDS
If you would like more information about this topic, please call the Press Office at +353 1 631 2200 or email press.office@dbei.gov.ie
Notes for editors
SME Credit Guarantee Scheme
The Credit Guarantee Scheme is provided by the Government through the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation to facilitate lending to viable Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) which would otherwise be declined by lenders due to insufficient collateral for the additional facilities and/or growth/expansionary SMEs which due to their sectors, markets or business model are perceived as a higher risk under current credit risk evaluation practices. The Scheme can be used to facilitate refinance if related to circumstances where the SME’s bank is either unwilling to extend or (ii) unable to provide the credit sought or has sold SMEs debt to a 3rd party.
The Scheme enables the borrower to access finance which would not otherwise have been available. The borrower contributes to the cost of the Scheme by paying a premium of up to 2% on the outstanding annual balance of the Scheme Facility to the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation.
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