Businesses doing it tough

Businesses are unable to get a loan unless owners are able to borrow against residential property, according to several brokers.

They say traditional business financing is difficult to obtain in the current market, with demands for forecasts two years ahead. 

ANZ is said to be placing the most scrutiny on business deals. 

Banks across the board are asking for detailed financials around the past six months, with some basing their decisions on post-lockdown trading figures.

One adviser said ANZ used the six month period after Covid to project finances for the next two years, and declined their client on that basis. 

"Some banks are a bit braver when it comes to business," the adviser said. "And I took my client to BNZ."

Q Group's Geoff Bawden agreed the banks were making it hard for businesses, including sole traders. 

"Very few businesses were able to come out of lockdown unscathed, and they are having to demonstrate with current year financial data (generally MYOB or Xero) that turnover and profitability remains stable. That can be very difficult to prove. Banks generally are not willing to rely on previous year end results."