Banks (Finance)
Banks are giving the cold shoulder to small and medium-sized businesses less often than in the past, says a current study by Hart & Associates Management Consultants Ltd. The study, which polled 615 companies in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, found that businesses with annual sales between $500,000 and $100-million
Banks (Finance)
The Labour Party's proposal for a government-backed small-business development bank has gained significant traction, with its backing for the idea surfacing earlier in the year. This innovative approach to small business banking could play a crucial role in reducing unemployment and halting the decline in the number of
Banking industry
In the heart of Lancashire, Hoyle-Butterworth, a textile business, is slowly getting back on its feet after being hit by the recession and a failed management buyout. The company has an unlikely saviour - Royal Bank of Scotland, which has bought a 33% stake and converted much of the debt
Banking industry
A recent study by Yellow Pages Australia Small Business Index survey has challenged the stereotype of women facing difficulties in accessing bank finance. The report, which surveyed 1300 men and women small-business proprietors, found that women are more likely to get bank finance, with a 94% success rate compared to
Banks (Finance)
A recent flurry of commitments to small business by the Big Six banks seems to contradict government figures showing a significant decline in lending since 1990, with banks reining in lending and shying away from sectors such as home building. The volume of small business loans under $200,000 has
Banking industry
Top executives of Canada's Big Six banks have acknowledged that in the past they have not always met the needs of small businesses seeking access to capital, but are now taking steps to adjust their lending policies and provide better education to branch managers. Holger Kluge, president of
Banking industry
The Reserve Bank of Australia has released statistical information on lending to small businesses, providing a detailed picture of the state of bank/small business relations. This comes as a result of two surveys of small and medium-sized businesses in metropolitan areas and primary production on the mainland. The surveys
Clinton, Bill
President Clinton met with a group of small business owners to discuss his health care reform plan, assuring them that the proposal would benefit them on balance. He acknowledged concerns that some small businesses would pay more under the plan, but pointed to the creation of state-based alliances that would
Clinton, Bill
The debate over the Clinton health care reform plan's impact on small businesses heated up today, with some owners welcoming the proposal and others vehemently opposing it. At a White House event, President Clinton invited 13 small business owners to discuss the plan's potential benefits for
Banks (Finance)
Canada's major banks are moving to reduce the financial risk of entrepreneurs and small business owners by relaxing their lending terms, a significant shift in approach given the federal government's push to encourage more loans to this sector. Amidst this backdrop, the Toronto-Dominion Bank has announced
Banks (Finance)
Banks have acknowledged shortcomings in their relationships with small business, including excessive reliance on overdrafts and an overemphasis on collateral over business value. However, there are limits to how far banks can meet the demands of small businesses, given their profit-driven nature. Despite this, there are positive trends, with banks
