ISME Welcomes Upturn In Credit Availability

Irish banks' willingness to lend to small and medium businesses in Ireland is now at the highest recorded level in three years, according to the results of a survey published today by the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises (ISME) Association. The study also recorded a decrease in the length of waiting times on decisions, down from five weeks to four. Demand for capital from banks now rests at around 41%, the highest level in four years. Significantly, the ISME Quarterly Bank Watch survey also found that 44% of those seeking funding were refused, compared with 52% from January to March.