More non-bank lenders granted SME Loan Guarantee allocations
Two more non-bank lenders, Moula and Liberty, have been granted an allocation under the government's Coronavirus SME Loan Guarantee Scheme.They join Prospa, which announced on Tuesday that it had received an allocation of up to A$223 million.MyState Bank also announced yesterday that it was an approved lender under the scheme.Under the terms of the scheme, businesses with turnover up to $50 million can borrow unsecured up to $250,000 with a term of up to three years and an initial six-month repayment holiday.Lenders will set specific lending standards and determine interest rates. Treasury says "lenders should take account of the risk shared by the government in determining interest rates".The government will provide eligible lenders with a guarantee for 50 per cent of new lending up to September 30. The scheme is designed to support up to $40 billion of working capital for SMEs.The government said applications by non-bank lenders would be subject to additional scrutiny, compared with bank lenders.Liberty has launched a new loan, Liberty Business Care, which includes all the features outlined in the scheme.Prospa, which lends at high rates, said it was still in the process of finalising its offer. It said its rate would reflect access to the scheme.MyState has set a rate of 5.5 per cent, with no establishment fee, drawdown fee or account keeping fee.MyState said the loan must be a new loan and cannot be used to refinance existing debt. Loans cannot be used to purchase property or equipment. "The loans must be for business purposes to support current and working capital requirements," MyState said.Commonwealth Bank reported last week that it has approved more than $200 million of loans under the scheme.