The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has announced it will confront the bank's "Scrooge-like tactics" at today's (December 8th) finance forum.
According to the body, around a third of small businesses are still struggling to get affordable credit from banks despite commitments being made to lend fairly.
The FSB's new figures released ahead of the Small Business Finance Forum meeting showed 30 per cent of small business insurance customers have seen an increase in the cost of new or existing loans from banks over the course of the past two months.
FSB national chairman John Wright said that while trade is down small firms are turning to banks for credit to tide them over and despite the government's £500 billion bailout financial institutions still do not want to lend to small businesses.
"The FSB will be urging the Government and the banks at today’s meeting to be more proactive and amenable in their lending practices," he added.
Founded in 1974, the FSB is the country's largest pressure group campaigning on behalf of the interests of the self-employed and owners of small businesses.
