The Netherlands can prepare for the creation of a new bank that will focus specifically on small and medium businesses. Since the House of Representatives recently (again) adopted a proposal from CDA MP Mustafa Amhaouch, politicians have been forced to investigate the arrival of a small and medium-sized bank. A year ago, former Minister of State for Economic Affairs Mona Kejzer said she did not see anything in the way of a small and medium-sized bank.
On the BNR Nieuwsradio radio show, Hans Biesheuvel, President of Ondernemend Nederland (ONL), expressed his enthusiasm for the news. The music in Biesheuvel’s ears is that entrepreneurs will soon no longer rely on traditional big banks for financing.
“Since the beginning of ONL – nine years ago – the idea of an SME bank has been around,” says Biesheuvel. The head of the ONL office anticipates that the future bank will become a place to help entrepreneurs looking for financing independently and well. Biesheuvel refers to the British Business Bank in the United Kingdom. “It was introduced years ago and it works very well.”
The head of ONL stated on the radio program that it is important that funding proposals are considered independently in the SME Bank. He himself claims to have had good experiences with Qredits, a microfinance company in the Netherlands that “does a great job”. And as far as Baysheville is concerned, the SME Bank is a follow-up to that. But then to get more financing. And not only for borrowing money, but also for leasing and factoring.” According to Biesheuvel, it should be a platform based on the point of view of the entrepreneur.
The head of the ONL office indicates that there are currently only three banks that can provide financing. In ABN AMRO, financing applications below 1 million, which represents 90% of SMEs, are no longer included. So there is an urgent need for a separate bank for that group.”
