John Trethowan has said his Credit Review Office will still have an important role to play for at least another couple of years; as an increased number of appeals regarding failed refinancing and working capital requests are expected.

A lack of quality among Ireland’s small business community and a paucity of lending banks in the marketplace are curtailing SME growth, an ESRI-hosted conference heard yesterday.

The pillar banks lack the lending skills necessary for more challenged SMEs looking for credit, according to the head of the Credit Review Office, John Trethowan.

The declining number of banks making loans to small businesses in Ireland is of increasing concern because of the need to ensure competition and protect customer service, the credit reviewer said.

Banks which fail to be customer-focused, and which fail to apply creativity and banking skill are devastating the owners of small- and medium-size enterprise when refusing loans, according to the head of the Credit Review Office.

The lack of competition in banking has led to a failure of the two pillar banks to take calculated risks on lending to new businesses according to the credit reviewer John Trethowan.

Matt the Threshers, of Birdhill, Co Limerick, was one of the beneficiaries of the Credit Review Office’s judgments allowing the pub to expand into Dublin.

The Irish Small and Medium Enterprises association (Isme) chief executive Mark Fielding has described the Credit Review Office as “a mudguard for the banks”.

FEWER than half of businesses that approach banks seeking finance end up making a loan application, an Irish Examiner/Cork Chamber survey reveals.

SMALL businesses have hit back at the Credit Review Office (CRO) which claims that AIB and Bank of Ireland will fail to meet their €6 billion credit commitments due to a lack of demand for loans.

Business chiefs have today clashed with a Government group tasked with ensuring lenders free up credit, branding it a mouthpiece for the banks.

REPRESENTATIVES of the Credit Review Office (CRO) and ISME have been appointed to a new board aimed at improving communication flow between Government and small firms.

INTERVENTION by the Credit Review Office has resulted in €1.77 million in credit being made available to small firms who otherwise would have gone out of business.

THE Credit Review Office has poured cold water on ongoing claims SMEs are still finding it difficult to access bank loans, by saying both demand and refusals are in decline.

THE head of the Credit Review Office (CRO) has said anything that can get capital moving to the small business community would be welcome, without clearly endorsing the establishment of a state-controlled strategic investment bank — for which opposition parties are calling.

THE head of the new Credit Review Office – aimed at overseeing bank lending to SMEs – has expressed confidence in his role making a difference, despite the fact that he will have no statutory powers.

A state body set up to support small businesses refused loans has no powers to force banks to overturn decisions, it was disclosed today.

Staff in National Irish Bank are being trained to spot money laundering activity at branches, it emerged today.