Vince Cable's new bank underlines the truth: the lending system is failing
Heather Stewart
Heather Stewart: High Street banks' continued reluctance to lend has forced yet another government initiative to help small businesses borrow capital
May 2012
Fears for recovery intensify as bank lending shrinks again
Almost £100bn in credit has now gone from the economy since the banking bailout
February 2012
We want real jobs, not YTS schemes
Banks miss Project Merlin lending targets to small business
Business blog
Project Merlin proves less than magic
Business blog
Banks' response to Project Merlin commitments on lending and bonuses
January 2012
Business blog
Top bankers' pay details unlikely to feature in 2011 annual reports
Bailed-out Royal Bank of Scotland controls the fate of many British firms
December 2011
Small firms hit by lending squeeze
Report reveals many small and medium-sized businesses struggled to obtain finance in the last year as bank targets falter
November 2011
Economics blog
Merlin's magical illusions
Top banks say they are on track to meet lending commitments
October 2011
Small businesses failing to get loans as banks blamed for credit squeeze
Small and medium enterprises that succeeded in loan applications last year down to 65% from 90% in 2007
Heather Stewart's business comment
Chinese hard landing won't help western economies
Heather Stewart
China's exports may be in decline – which is not the economic good news that some might think, writes Heather Stewart
Small business funding needs 'new mechanisms', says Cable
Nils Pratley on finance
Project Merlin lacks magic
Business blog
George Osborne's credit easing to fill gap left by Project Merlin
September 2011
Brendan Barber will urge unions to build new 'green' economy
TUC head calls for shift in debate away from deficit cuts to bringing about 'mass movement for change'
August 2011
Britain's entrepreneurial spirit is being strangled
Polly Toynbee
Polly Toynbee: The banks – even those all but owned by us – still won't lend enough to small businesses. They must be forced to do so
Barclays profits fall, hit by £1bn PPI bill
Bank announces that first-half profits are down 33% to £2.6bn after setting aside £1bn to compensate customers mis-sold payment protection insurance and says 3,000 jobs will be lost this year
HSBC reveals Project Merlin lending commitments
HSBC 'on track' to meet £38.3bn lending target agreed with government in February
