Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks have announced that they will be significantly increasing their support for small businesses across the country.
The services and products available from the banks will be offered to companies, typically those with turnovers of less than £1million or borrowings under £250,000. Start-ups will be provided with 24 months of free banking, while switching companies will be offered 18 months. The banks have referred to statistics from the Federation of Small Businesses which indicate that about 250,000 companies are unhappy with their current service.
Gary Lumby, director for small business at Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks, said: "Small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities and economy. We see a real opportunity to offer a credible alternative; establishing local relationships to help small businesses flourish, with local knowledge and services that suit their needs. The evidence suggests that the small business market is underserved by the 'big banks'. We see this as a great time to correct that and build on our already successful business banking approach."
An online banking service will also be launched in the summer.






