The business model of the SBCI is to serve as an on-lending financial institution providing low cost, wholesale finance to on-lenders in the SME market in Ireland. In supporting the development of new areas in the market, the SBCI aims to develop a functioning commercial market rather than a State-supported market. As the SBCI matures, it will adopt a counter-cyclical approach, scaling back the proportion of the market it is supporting as the market strengthens and scaling up in weaker environments.

The SBCI employs a small, high quality and efficient team in order to transmit the maximum benefit to SMEs while carrying out its function of developing products and services. To this end, the SBCI leverages the resources of the NTMA. SBCI staff are employees of the NTMA and are assigned to the SBCI while most of the SBCI’s corporate services are provided by the NTMA. The SBCI reimburses the NTMA for the provision of these services including staff costs.