RBS

RBS are really excited to be working with Smarta, the pioneering online community, to transform the face of business support in the UK. Smarta is a giant leap forward for business networking, connecting businesses and facilitating the exchange of knowledge, in addition to providing unprecedented tools and advice and RBS are pleased to have the opportunity to be a founding partner in such an innovative initiative.

"RBS have a key insight into the wants and needs of small businesses - they have their finger on the pulse. We are thrilled they are a founding partner in Smarta and are grateful for their enthusiastic approach in developing the site." Sháá Wasmund, Founder of Smarta

The guidance and tools you'll find on Smarta aim to inform and encourage you at every stage of your business journey. Below, we've introduced a selection of the bite-sized articles and tools as well as RBS News, intended to keep you up to date with our developments. If you have any feedback or ideas that you would like to see covered on the site, please click here and tell us.

We look forward to working with Smarta to develop an interactive experience, whatever your business life stage, so make sure you stay in touch to discover exciting new additions.

RBS news

10 Februrary 2009

A powerful new online index that charts the growth and impact of social businesses was launched at Voice 09.

The RBS SE100* Index, run by Society Media in partnership with RBS Community Banking, has been created to enable social businesses to see how their growth and measurement of social impact compares to others', track emerging markets, and gain knowledge of the sector they work in and their position within it.

Every month the Index will focus on a new sector or marketplace including: health, education, employment and training and finance. The five organisations with the highest annual turnover growth will be published on a dedicated website, alongside expert advice about measuring social impact and information about the winner.

Any organisation that delivers social, economic or environmental change can sign up for the index and nominations are also welcome.

In March 2010 the top 100 highest growth organisations will be announced with awards totaling £50,000 given for three separate categories, including; the highest growth, the most effective measurement of social return and best new contribution in terms of either social impact or growth.

Kevin Brennan, MP, Minister for the Third Sector, said: "Social enterprises make a really significant contribution to society, both in terms of the positive impact they have on deprived communities, and in terms of their contribution to the wider economy. The RBS SE100 Index will help to create a better understanding about the vital role these organisations play."

Duncan Sloan, Head of Community Banking at RBS, said: "RBS has been committed to the social enterprise market in the UK for over a decade, and we are thrilled to be driving this pioneering initiative. The Index, which is the first of its kind, will prove to be a really valuable benchmark for the entire social enterprise sector, and signing up or nominating an organisation couldn't be simpler.  We therefore urge all social businesses to get on board as soon as possible."

People interested in signing up their organisation or nominating an organisation can visit www.se100.co.uk.

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01 December 2008

• Up to 1 million small businesses to benefit
• Bank pledges not to increase pricing on committed overdrafts until at least the end of 2009
• Committed overdrafts for small businesses stay in place for a whole year

RBS has today given the business market place a much-needed shot in the arm with a commitment not to increase overdraft pricing for small businesses, with effect from 1 December 2008.  In delivering peace of mind on both borrowing and pricing to this vital sector of the UK economy, the Bank has also pledged to continue to provide committed overdrafts to businesses.  What this means is that, unlike other providers, our overdrafts are not repayable on demand and so our customers' facilities stay firmly in place for 12 months from the date they are agreed.

For business customers, their committed overdraft pricing will also be guaranteed for 12 months from the day it is agreed and at renewal time, RBS promise not to increase it unless there has been a rise in the risks associated with lending to them.  This price promise will stay in place until at least the end of next year.

Welcoming the announcement, the Rt. Hon John McFall MP, said:  "The next year will be difficult for all businesses.  What's required is stability, certainty and a close relationship between small businesses and their banks.  I welcome this initiative from RBS and call on other banks to come forward with proposals that will help businesses navigate through this difficult period."

As well as more financial support, the Bank has also announced more access to face to face advice and support to help businesses trade successfully in an economic downturn.  For those businesses facing heightened financial pressures, the Bank is currently putting in place an experienced team of 500 to offer more intensive support to these customers.

Drawn from our existing network of 4,000 relationship managers across Britain, highly experienced managers have been selected for their skills and knowledge which they have built up supporting businesses during difficult times in the past.  They are locally based to give our customers the hands on support they need in this current downturn and already, the Bank has started pairing up these managers with those businesses facing increased financial pressures to help guide them through these challenging times.

Stephen Alambritis, Head of Public Affairs for the Federation of Small Businesses, commented: "This is a very welcome initiative from NatWest.  Small businesses are concerned about the availability and pricing of their overdrafts and we are pleased that the Bank has listened to its customers and taken this action to support them."

As well as these commitments, the vast majority (95 per cent) of RBS small business lending is base rate linked so all these businesses will benefit immediately from any cut in interest rates.  This is precisely what happened when the Bank of England cut its Base rate by 1.5 per cent on Thursday 6th November.