UK Finance responds to HM Treasury announcement regarding changes to state aid rules

Responding to the announcement from HM Treasury of a change to state aid rules relating to facilities offered under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, Stephen Pegge, Managing Director of Commercial Finance at UK Finance, said:

This change will make a real difference for those smaller, viable businesses who had previously struggled to secure loans under the schemes because they were deemed to be ?undertakings in difficulty?. Lenders will now be able to help more viable business secure the finance they need and will continue to engage with their commercial customers and assess any new lending applications against the revised rules.

Area of expertise:

Notes to editor

<p>1. UK Finance is the collective voice for the banking and finance industry. Representing more than 250 firms across the industry, we act to enhance competitiveness, support customers and facilitate innovation.</p>
<p>2. <a href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.g… figures from HM Treasury</a> show that the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) has reached over 57,000 businesses with £12.7 billion worth of finance and facilities.</p>
<p>3. The banking and finance industry has put in place a clear plan to help Britain through:</p>
<ul><li>1.9 million <a href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F74n5c… payment deferrals</a></li>
<li><a href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.u… million interest-free overdrafts</a> offered, 1.05 million payment deferrals on credit cards and 707,000 payment deferrals on personal loans.</li>
<li>£49.4 billion of lending to over 1.17 million businesses through government Covid-19 lending schemes</li>
<li>Protecting customers from <a href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F74n5c… and fraud</a></li>
<li>Higher limit for<a href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F74n5c…; contactless payments</a></li>
</ul><p>4. More information on the CBIL scheme is available <a href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F74n5c…;