Specialist SME lender, ScotPac, is starting 2022 with a bang, launching three new products that accept property security early next year. This is the first time an Australian non-bank SME specialist lender has moved into offering home loans.
ScotPac’s entry into property-secured lending is a response to the challenge business owners face securing a home loan or qualifying for bank funding for their business. ScotPac CEO, Jon Sutton, says this initiative serves a large, underserviced part of the market: business owners who struggle to get appropriate finance.
All three products, which will be available to new and existing ScotPac customers, provide access to $20,000 to $2 million per property, or up to $4 million for multiple properties. Terms vary from five to 30 years for the home loan and one to 30 years for the business loan and cash on call products.
Mr Sutton says that the new offering “also bolsters ScotPac’s core products of debtor, asset and trade finance by allowing us to help a much broader pool of business owners than ever before.”
“ScotPac is willing to take on and service this neglected part of the market, and through our deep understanding of SME businesses and their cashflows, we can provide additional funds and products for their home loan and business needs,” he explains.
“All three new solutions have fast set up, no-fuss paperwork and conditional approval in as little as 48 hours, plus personalised service from a dedicated relationship manager who can help SME owners with funding as their businesses evolve.
“Unlike the cookie-cutter approvals approach of other lenders, ScotPac has the ability to personalise solutions to remove many challenges business owners face, allowing us to say yes to more often than other lenders.”
Good news for business owners looking for a home loan
Rather than competing with the large banks solely on interest rates, ScotPac’s Home Loan for Business Owners will offer the benefit of property-secured lending that allows SME owners to use the equity in their home to help fund the business. Customers will receive bundled savings if they use additional ScotPac solutions such as invoice, asset, or trade finance.
“In Australia alone, there are 350,000 self-employed business owners who face challenges securing a loan to buy or refinance residential property,” Mr Sutton says.
“Our SME Growth Index research shows us most SME owners look to lean on equity in their home as a source of business funding. So, we’ve introduced a flexible solution where owners can use the extra equity in their residential property to borrow for their business.
“Our new home loan for business owners will assist the hundreds of thousands of self-employed entrepreneurs who struggle to get home loans from traditional finance sources.
“The business owner then has the option, as their business evolves, to use their residential security for their future business lending with ScotPac, to quickly fuel business growth.”
An alternative to bank business loans
The ScotPac Business Loan will be a property-secured facility that allows SME owners to unlock equity in their property to fuel business growth, or refinance from other business loans.
“Business owners need fast funding to fuel their investment and growth, and our new loan product answers this need.
Terms are up to 30 years, principal and interest or interest-only up to five years, with options to redraw or make extra payments.
Business cash on call
Designed to compete with the more traditional bank overdraft, the ScotPac Business Cash on Call will provide fast and flexible funding as a property-secured working capital solution to smooth out cashflow and cover unplanned investments and expenses. It will be principal and interest or interest-only up to five years.
“We will offer a set limit and the ability to draw funds if and when the business needs it, only paying for what is used. This will suit business owners looking for a solution similar to an overdraft,” Mr Sutton explains.
“This allows a business to manage day-to-day expenses to improve their cashflow and to quickly access funds to manage extra expenses as they occur.
“It is competitively priced within our target market because the cash on call is secured by property, and it allows a business owner to benefit from ScotPac’s 30-plus years of knowledge and track record of delivering the quick answers, flexibility and fast funding that business owners require.”
Mr Sutton believes that despite the challenges that SMEs have faced during the last two years, business owners are demonstrating their natural resilience, facing the future with a sense of optimism. He believes the three new ScotPac finance options will help businesses adapt and reposition themselves to meet the demands of a post-pandemic environment.
Read more: ScotPac launches $100 million SME fund to help businesses bounce back
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