This British Business Bank-backed scheme is designed to support UK based small and medium-sized businesses that have a turnover of more than £45m and that can demonstrate they were viable before the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here if your business has a turnover of less than £45m.
Further information can also be found on the British Business Bank website.
The Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme is managed by the British Business Bank on behalf of, and with the financial backing of, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
Key Features
Loans from £500,000 to £50m
You can apply for a loan between £500,000 and £50m
Flexible terms available
Spread repayments of your loan from three months to three years
Limited time to apply
This scheme currently runs to 20 October 2020
Eligibility Criteria:
The eligibility criteria specified by the British Business Bank states that this scheme is open to businesses
that:
- Are a UK based business impacted by the COVID-19
- Have a borrowing proposal which, were it not for the COVID-19 pandemic, would be considered viable and for
which the provision of finance will enable trading out of any short-to-medium term difficulty - Have a group turnover of more than £45m
Other details:
- The British Business Bank guarantees 80% of the CLBILS facility
- As a business, you will be responsible for repayment of 100% of the facility, not just the 20% that falls
outside of the coverage of the British Business Bank’s guarantee. - Security will be requested, and personal guarantee may be requested.
- Please note that individual lenders may also have their own additional criteria for eligibility. At OakNorth Bank, the minimum sum we accept for CLBILS loan applications is £500,000 which is in line with the loan size we do with our normal commercial loans.
What happens if I default?
Where defaults occur, we follow our standard commercial recovery procedures, including the realisation of security, before we make a claim against the government’s 80% guarantee.
Are all sectors eligible?
Whilst loans are available to most sectors, some restrictions apply.
Why isn’t OakNorth Bank offering loans of less than £500,000?
We have never offered asset finance, invoice finance, or overdrafts. Instead, we have focused on offering term loans which start at £500,000. In order to best support businesses through this challenging period and ensure we’re able to conduct the correct level of credit analysis, we are focusing on the loan size we do with normal commercial loans- which typically doesn’t fall below £500,000.
Why isn’t OakNorth Bank offering loans of more than £50m?
We are only accredited for loans up to £50m.
My business was under pressure before the COVID-19 crisis – am I still eligible for CBILS?
You can still be considered for a loan under the scheme, though these are subject to business viability and you must meet the full eligibility criteria to be approved.
What security do I need to provide?
A debenture giving legal charge over all the assets of the business.
Can I refinance a loan into CLBILS?
Possibly – under very specific circumstances. Please get in touch with our team so we can discuss it directly with you.
What kind of interest rates will businesses need to pay?
The interest rate on your loan will be agreed with you and communicated to you at the outset.
What do I do if my CLBILS application is unsuccessful?
There are several government support measures for businesses which you may be eligible for. Further information on these initiatives is available on gov.uk.
You may also be able to get a loan from another accredited lender on the scheme (full list here).