Bank Hapoalim (TASE: POLI; LSE:80OA) today announced that it will provide NIS 1 billion in extra credit to small businesses. The credit is for both current and new bank customers.
The bank will operate a new telephone service, *2406, which will direct calls to eight regional business centers. The centers will handle calls from small businesses that are not Bank Hapoalim customers, and review the requests for credit. The bank's branches will complete the loans.
Bank Hapoalim chairman Dan Dankner said, "We put great importance on helping all sectors of the economy, including the business sector."
Bank Leumi (TASE: LUMI) also announced today that it will provide NIS 1.5 billion in loans to small businesses. The maximum loan is NIS 80,000, for up to five years, with an 18-month grace period for repayment. The interest will range from prime +1.8% to prime +2.9%, depending on the customer's rating.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on December 16, 2008
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2008