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ECB's latest bank lending survey shows that banks are easing credit standards for loans to businesses

ECB says euro zone bank sector on the mend

Europe's battered financial sector is showing further signs of mending and banks are increasingly competing for custom by lowering credit standards, a key ECB survey showed today.

Business • 14 Jul 15

SMEs waited on average 58 days for payment in the second quarter of 2015 - ISME

Improvement in amount of time SMEs wait to be paid

The amount of time that small and medium sized businesses have to wait in order to get paid is getting shorter, a new ISME survey shows.

Business • 13 Jul 15

AIB had an initial fund of €200m available to lend through the SBCI

AIB approves €60m worth of SBCI lending

AIB has approved €60m worth of loans made available through the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland.

Business • 11 May 15

The maximum length of the Credit Guarantee scheme will be extended from three to seven years

Changes to Credit Guarantee Scheme announced

Changes have been announced to the Credit Guarantee Scheme which will help more small and medium sized enterprises secure finance.

Business • 23 Feb 15

SMEs were increasingly taking advantage of the examinership process through the Circuit Courts

1,243 jobs saved through examinerships in 2014

More than 1,200 jobs were saved following an examinership process during 2014, according to figures published today.

Business • 23 Dec 14

Brendan Howlin, Wolfgang Schaeuble, Michael Noonan and Werner Hoyer sign the bill (Pic: Merrion Street)

New State bank to help fund Irish SMEs

An agreement has been signed that will make it easier for smaller businesses to get low-interest loans.

News • 03 Nov 14

Central Bank says high levels of indebtedness can impede firms' ability to invest for productive means

High levels of default in SMEs with property loans

New research on debt levels among SMEs shows that companies with property related debts have higher loan default rates than firms with debts only related to their core businesses.

Business • 15 Oct 14

Loans to SMEs increased but the amount of credit available was down

Lending to SMEs up but credit down - Central Bank

New lending to small and medium-sized businesses rose in the first half of the year when compared to the same period of 2013, according to figures from the Central Bank.

Business • 05 Sep 14

New economic letter from Central Bank on SMEs' indebtedness

SMEs with property loans more likely to default

New research from the Central Bank has found that small businesses that borrowed money for property investment are almost twice as likely to default as similar firms without property loans.

Business • 20 Aug 14

The European Commission has awarded ten Irish SMEs €50,000

Ten Irish SMEs to receive funding from EU

Ten Irish businesses with each receive €50,000 in funding from the European Commission in the first wave of grands under its SME Instrument scheme.

Business • 24 Jul 14

Bank of Ireland approved 32,000 SME credit applications to June end

Bank of Ireland approves €2.1bn of loans for SMEs

Bank of Ireland said it approved around €2.1bn worth of new credit for SMEs in the first half of 2014, up 7% on the same period last year.

Business • 21 Jul 14

SMEs are the biggest users of cheques in Ireland

60% of SMEs unaware of NPP - survey

A survey of SMEs by Sage Ireland has revealed that 60% of business are not aware of the National Payments Plan (NPP).

Business • 31 Mar 14

John Trethowan says the exit of foreign banks is leading to lower-risk lending amongst remaining players

SME lending market concentrating due to bank exits

Banks are engaging in lower risk lending as the market concentrates, according to Credit Reviewer John Trethowan.

Business • 24 Mar 14

Michael Noonan and said it was important that 'very good economists' get involved in the national debate

Minister for Finance welcomes Morgan Kelly warning

Minister for Finance Michael Noonan has suggested that the Central Bank make contact with economist Morgan Kelly following his warning that the European Central Bank is planning a "clean-up" of Irish banks.

Business • 10 Mar 14

RBS has been accused of pushing struggling firms into its 'turnaround' unit

British regulator probes treatment of SMEs by RBS

Britain's financial regulator has appointed two outside firms to review part-nationalised Royal Bank of Scotland's treatment of struggling small business customers.

Business • 17 Jan 14

TenderScout's Tony Corrigan says average Government tender is worth at least €25,000

Foreign firms won 28% of Government tenders

Irish companies have been urged to compete in greater numbers for Government tenders next year after research shows that 28% of public tenders were awarded to foreign companies this year.

Business • 30 Dec 13

Fewer SMEs applied for credit in the past six months, according to the survey

73% of SMEs report stable or improved turnover

Turnover at almost three quarters of SMEs has been stable or improved in the past six months, according to the latest Red C SME Credit Demand survey, a 10% increase on the previous period.

Business • 03 Dec 13

More funds will be made available through the private sector

€125m fund to boost small and medium businesses

The Government has announced details of a €125m fund to help boost small- and medium-sized businesses.

News • 04 Nov 13

The fund makes £25m available to SMEs in Northern Ireland

£25m fund established for Northern Ireland's SMEs

A new growth fund, backed by Invest NI and Bank of Ireland, has been established for small and medium-sized businesses in Northern Ireland.

Business • 24 Oct 13

Those unemployed for 15 months or more will be given an income tax exemption if they start a new business

Measures announced to encourage entrepreneurship

A number of measures are to be introduced as part of Budget 2014 aimed at encouraging people to establish new businesses.

Business • 15 Oct 13

15% of small and medium businesses expect to increase staffing levels in the coming year

SMEs expect further improvement in coming year

Small and medium-sized businesses expect trading conditions to improve further in the coming year, according to the latest quarterly business trends survey by ISME.

Business • 11 Oct 13

SMEs in some euro zone states paying interest on banks loans up to three times more than German counterparts

Euro zone SMEs 'starved' of credit

Small and medium sized businesses in the peripheral euro zone are being ''starved'' of credit, a new survey shows.

Business • 11 Oct 13

Central Bank research shows that Irish SMEs have been disproportionately exposed to potential weakness in the bank sector

Irish SMEs very reliant on bank funding

New research from the Central Bank reveals that Irish small and medium sized business are among the most reliant on banks in Europe.

Business • 07 Oct 13

John Trethowan urged banks to use their expertise to advise SMEs on ways to improve their credit application

Banks urged to help viable SMEs secure credit

The Credit Review Office says banks are continuing to lend to low to medium risk businesses while rejecting other “bankable propositions” because they “may not ‘tick all the boxes’.”

Business • 26 Sep 13

The vast majority of SMEs and consumers use An Post as their main provider

40% of SMEs have seen decline in amount of post

Almost 40% of businesses have seen a decline in the amount of standard post received over the past two years, according to a ComReg survey.

Business • 09 Jul 13