Regional Funds

Our SME Regional Funds provides a number of new initiatives to deliver £3 billion of new funding to our customers, offering the opportunity to access other avenues to help manage capital and cash flow through the current economic downturn.

This further commitment to the small business sector will be delivered through twelve Regional SME Funds in England, Wales and Scotland and Northern Ireland. Ulster Bank will provide the Fund for Northern Ireland's business. The funding is aligned to each of the Government Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) across the UK and will provide you as a customer with a comprehensive package of funding choices.

The SME Regional Funds are a key mechanism to provide additional funding to SMEs in line with our commitment to Government to increase lending to businesses across the UK in 2010.

Our existing funding solutions:

Our lowest ever loan rate to make borrowing more affordable: We have reduced the rates on our small business loans. What's more, the loan is unsecured and is free from any fees (available for a limited period only).

Interest-only loans to help free up your cash flow in the next two years: In the first two years with our Trading Business Loan you pay interest only. This five-year loan can be fixed or variable and after the first two years, repayments increase to repay the loan.

Reduced margins on business term loans and more funding to help businesses raise finance at the right price: We have secured £250 million from the European Investment Bank which we are making available to customers looking to borrow over £26,000, at a reduced interest margin compared to standard term loans.

Invoice Finance with bad debt protection and support to manage payments from customers: If any of your customers become formally insolvent bad debt protection may protect from loss of any unpaid invoices.

Asset Finance to unlock the value of the assets in your business: Asset finance can help you to work your capital harder. You can lease the asset for a period to match any underlying contract or expected usage.

Don't let your business face unnecessary risk, get in touch with your local Business Manager to see how you can access a share of the funding through one of the many product options available