The term Open Banking may still be a mystery to many people, but more lenders are beginning to adopt the technology and benefits it brings. We open our latest Bulletin with news that Boost Capital, the short term business finance provider, has embraced Open Banking to speed up the processing of finance applications.

New research from Experian, the credit reference agency, reveals that a high proportion of people have never checked their personal credit score. We look at why it’s important to do so, especially prior to applying for business finance. In the Bulletin we mentioned a longer video with tips on how to improve your business credit score.

To close, our regular look at activity in the asset finance sector. The latest figures from the Finance and Leasing Association show that in January, usage of asset finance bucked the trend in terms of appetite to invest.

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To start this week’s Business Finance Bulletin, we look at findings from a Barclays Bank survey which reveals that more small businesses are falling victim to invoice scams. With this type of fraud on the rise, what can you do to protect yourself?

In his Spring Statement, Chancellor Philip Hammond has listened to calls from small businesses to act in tackling late payment. The government has laid out the steps it plans to take in order to reduce the cashflow burden caused by larger firms delaying payment.

To round off this week’s Bulletin, with banks closing increasing numbers of branches, it’s rare to hear of new ones being opened. Barclays, Lloyds and NatWest though have announced the pilot launch of shared Business Banking Hubs. Could this collaborative approach be the way forward?

If you would prefer to listen to the podcast version you can click below or download to listen to later via our Soundcloud, Stitcher or itunes channel.

We open our latest Bulletin with news of another tranche of money released as part of the RBS bailout package. Designed to improve competition in the small business banking market, eleven banks have the opportunity to incentivise small business owners to switch from RBS.

Paypal may not immediately jump to mind as being an alternative lender but since 2014 their Working Capital loan product has been a life line for small businesses in need of finance. Available only to Paypal clients, we look at how loan usage has jumped over the last 12 months.

Despite everything going on politically and economically, a new survey from Hitachi Capital reveals that many small businesses are planning growth. What are their top three growth priorities?

If you would prefer to listen to the podcast version you can click below or download to listen to later via our Soundcloud, Stitcher or itunes channel.

The Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme has been a successful programme to help businesses access finance when they have no security. To open our latest Bulletin, news that ethical lender Robert Owen Community Banking Fund has joined the list of lenders offering access to business finance via EFG.

Following the government’s bailout of RBS in the aftermath of the credit crunch, the first recipients of an RBS-financed £775m fund has been announced. The fund is designed to promote and improve competition in the small business finance market. We look at the first three banks to benefit and their plans.

With Brexit looming, we close with the announcement from UK Finance of a new initiative, ‘Let’s Talk Business’. The campaign is focused on encouraging businesses to engage early with their banks if they are likely to need finance.

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To start our latest Bulletin, a call from the FSB for the Chancellor to take a tough stance on late payment. With the annual Spring Statement a few weeks away, the FSB is seeking three commitments from the government to tackle late payment.

To support small businesses in need of finance, we have news from the British Business Bank that its subsidiary, British Business Investments, has made £20m available to alternative lender Thin Cats. Could you use a slice of that funding?

No Bulletin would be the same without the mention of that ‘B’ word! To close, an announcement from Barclays that is it to hold a series of Brexit Workshops across the UK in March to help business owners plan ahead.

If you would prefer to listen to the podcast version you can click below or download to listen to later via our Soundcloud, Stitcher or itunes channel.

We open our latest Bulletin with a look at findings from the annual Small Business Finance Markets survey carried out by the British Business Bank. The report confirms recent reports that small businesses seem reluctant to borrow with all types of finance options seeing flat or slower growth.

Good news for business owners from mobile-only bank Monzo with the launch of a business account later in the year. Find out how you could be one of 100 business who have a say in shaping the new account.

Finding finance can be a time-consuming task. To help speed up the process the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers has announced a service to assist businesses source a finance broker in their locality.

If you would prefer to listen to the podcast version you can click below or download to listen to later via our Soundcloud, Stitcher or itunes channel.

Many of our recent Bulletins have featured doom and gloom sentiments from businesses. We open this week’s Bulletin though with findings from Independent Growth Finance that some businesses are actually feeling positive about their growth prospects.

The so-called Challenger Banks which rose up after the Credit Crunch, are now maturing into solid providers of commercial finance. One such bank is Cambridge and Counties which has announced a new milestone in terms of its growth and reputation as a strong funding partner.

To round off this Bulletin, a look at the launch of a new fund from Santander and private investment group Topland focused on funding property developers. Traditionally not the domain of the High Street banks, the fund aims to support developers with a competitive finance package.

If you would prefer to listen to the podcast version you can click below or download to listen to later via our Soundcloud, Stitcher or itunes channel.

When compared to the UK’s country peers, we are not as productivity as other economies. To open this week’s Bulletin, we have news of the launch of the Government’s Business Basics Fund. The fund is open to bids from businesses which have ideas to help close the UK productivity gap but need finance to develop them.

The reputation of the High Street banks took a hit post Credit Crunch and to counter this, TSB has committed to a series of Lending Pledges. We take a look at the six pledges and how they are designed to reassure the bank’s business customers that they will be treated fairly.

To close this Bulletin, continued evidence coming out of how business owners remain reluctant to borrow and conditions remain tough. The latest figures from UK Finance reveal a contraction in business borrowing and other indicators show that the general trading environment remains challenging.

If you would prefer to listen to the podcast version you can click below or download to listen to later via our Soundcloud, Stitcher or itunes channel.

Having a Credit Score at the right level is an important factor when seeking finance. To open this week’s Bulletin, we look at recent research from Experian, the credit reference agency, which reveals the area of the UK which has the highest average business Credit Score. Is it your region?

From launching a pilot online lending platform in 2017, NatWest has announced the formal roll-out of ESME Loans to its customers. We take a look at the levels of business done during the pilot phase and its key features.

To close, having avoided a mention of it in the previous Bulletin, we’re backed to a Brexit-focused story! Lloyds Bank, as part of a monthly Manufacturers survey, has found evidence that businesses may be starting to stockpile in advance of Brexit. What impact can this strategy have on cashflow though?

If you would prefer to listen to the podcast version you can click below or download to listen to later via our Soundcloud, Stitcher or itunes channel.

We open our latest Bulletin with the announcement from Lloyds as to how much lending it will be committing to UK businesses in 2019. The funding pot will be available to all businesses but with an emphasis on those businesses looking to export for the first time.

The Finance and Leasing Association has released up to date figures on the volume of business written by its members. The level of asset finance transactions is always a good indicator of how business owners are feeling, and the recent figures are a mix of good and bad news.

To close, we look at the call from the FSB for a review of the Prompt Payment Code. This voluntary code is designed to curb late payment, but 12 months on from the Carillion collapse the FSB wants to see it strengthened.

If you would prefer to listen to the podcast version you can click below or download to listen to later via our Soundcloud, Stitcher or itunes channel.