What is the SBCI?

If you have big plans for your small business, the SBCI can help you fund them.

A new, strategic SME funding company, the SBCI’s goal is to ensure access to flexible funding for Irish SMEs by facilitating the provision of:

• Flexible products with longer maturity and capital repayment flexibility, subject to credit approval;
• Lower cost funding to financial institutions which is passed on to SMEs;
• Market access for new entrants to the SME lending market, creating real competition.

All of these elements create a more competitive and dynamic environment for SME funding. The SBCI is a vital new part of the country’s financial architecture. By taking a fresh approach to funding SMEs in Ireland, the long-term potential of the sector to drive economic growth and job creation will be actively supported.

How will the funds get from the SBCI to my business?

The funding will be made available to SMEs through both bank and non-bank specialist on-lenders.

The release of long-term funds by promotional (or state-backed) financial institutions, through frontline (or traditional) finance providers, is a successful and effective model for funding SMEs throughout Europe.

The SBCI is currently working with non-bank financial institutions (such as leasing and invoice discounting providers) to develop alternative products for the Irish SME sector in order to deliver choice and competition.

That sounds great – but who is funding the SBCI?

The SBCI’s initial funding partners are:

• the European Investment Bank (EIB),
• Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW the German promotional bank), and;
• the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF).

These partners are providing long-term funding at attractive rates to the SBCI to support Irish SMEs.