UK businesses have borrowed £31bn from banks through the government’s coronavirus loan scheme, but the approval rate on its flagship Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans (CBILs) programme is still languishing at around 50 per cent. The bulk of this £31bn has been through the bounce back loan scheme, which has lent out £21.3bn. With the changes to, what we are calling, ‘phase 2 of furlough’ bringing about higher wages costs for the majority, along with less certainty on demand for products and services, there could be huge cashflow concerns for many businesses in the short term. Now is the time that businesses will need to review their financing for the next 12 months to ensure their survival. So, which loan is the best option for your business? In the table below we compare the differences between the Bounce Back Loans and Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans. Bounce Back Loans (BBLS) Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans (CBILS) Borrow £2,000 to £50,000 Borrow £50,001 to £250,000 Fixed rate of 2.5% per year Rates between 1.4%-8.9% Fixed 6-year terms 2 to 5-year terms Nothing to pay for 12 months Nothing to pay for 12 months No upfront or early settlement fee No upfront or early settlement fee Fast decisions Decisions typically within 24 hours The good news is that the criteria for CBILs has been slightly relaxed and you no longer need to approach your bank first. The speed for applications has also improved with responses within 24 hours from a number of lenders. We are hearing some good news stories from clients about non traditional lenders such as Close Brothers and Funding Circle. We have two articles below which go into more detail about the requirements for CBILS and whether applying for a BBLS is the right option for your business. Bank requirements for CBILS Should you apply for a bounce back loan? Before signing up to any lending you should always know the overall cost to you and any early repayment penalties should you wish to repay early or re-finance for a larger amount. Talk to your Principal Adviser at A4G or call us on 01474 853 856 or email discovery@a4g-llp.co.uk before you apply for finance to ensure this lending is the right path for your long-term plans or if this won’t be an available option for you what other steps you can take. Contact me today! Emma White FCA Partner 01474 853856 emma.white@a4g-llp.co.uk Send me a message Ask me a question Fill in your details below and I’ll come back to as soon as I can! If your enquiry is more urgent, please do give me a call. Your full name* Contact no.* Email address* Business name* Industry / Profession* Your messageOne last thing...*By ticking this box you agree to being contacted via email or phone by one of our Advisers, and for the information you provide us with to be kept securely for future communications in line with the new GDPR Yes, I agree Share this article Other posts of interest 24th February 2020 Time to ‘Spring Clean’ your finances? Read more 14th September 2020 Brexit: Key issues you need to consider Read more 4th April 2020 Time to sharpen the saw Read more See more articles