Syscap comments that interest rates on business loans under £1 million fell only 0.08 per cent, from 3.79 per cent to 3.71 per cent in April 2012, despite the introduction on March 20 of the National Loan Guarantee Scheme (NLGS).

Interest rates on these loans are actually higher than the 3.62 per cent a year ago (April 2011).

The NLGS, part of the government’s credit easing programme, will underwrite up to £20 billion in lending in order to lower the interest rate of small business loans made under the scheme by 1 per cent.

Philip White, chief executive of Syscap says, ‘The NLGS has not yet had the hoped-for impact on borrowing costs for small businesses as a whole. That will come as a real disappointment to the small business community.

‘This may change as more banks introduce their NLGS loans, but at the moment, it’s difficult to identify any positive changes in the overall small business lending environment.’

Nine banks have signed up for the NLGS, although not all have made discounted loans available. One participating bank has set its minimum loan amount at £25,000, effectively ruling out loans to the smallest class of businesses.

Says White, ‘Both Project Merlin and the EFG scheme fell some way short of expectations with the interest rate on small business loans still higher than it was a year ago and no reversal in the reduction in lending by banks to SMEs.’

The Bank of England says it is planning an estimated £80 billion ‘funding for lending’ scheme, intended to stimulate bank lending to businesses. Syscap say that this is a step in the right direction, but that uncertainty remains over whether this scheme will get new funding to SMEs.

White adds, ‘Banks are not reluctant to lend to UK businesses as a whole; the problem is centred on lending to SMEs – this is where interest rates have remained stubbornly high.’