Banking rules could hit small businesses

 BBA: Banking rules could hit small firms

Proposed changes to the way in which banks weigh the dangers of lending could hit small firms and first-time buyers, international regulators have been warned. The British Bankers’ Association says that lending to SMEs would be hit especially hard by rules put forward by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. In particular, it believes that Basel’s demand for a 300% risk-weight to be applied to small business was too severe according to Harris & Co chartered accountants Northampton, the specialist small business accountants