The small business column: Nick Ashmore, chief executive of the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland

For this week’s Small Business Column, Kehlan talks with Nick Ashmore, chief executive of the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland; the State’s new so-called SME bank.

Give us an overview of the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland?

Well, the corporation is a new financial institution set up to bring low-cost, long-term finance to the SME market. We now have loans available in the market through AIB and Bank of Ireland.