WITH interest rates at an all-time low this might be the time for businesses to consider buying rather than leasing premises.

With so much negative comment in the media, visitors from outer space could be forgiven for thinking UK banks had totally given up lending.

So let’s try and banish this myth once and for all. The reality is very different and it is certainly not the case with HSBC.

Banks will always look favourably at viable business propositions as, let’s be frank, that is what they do.

But they are not charities and no bank will, to use that well known phrase, throw good money after bad.

If a business is either badly run, haemorrhaging funds, producing goods or services no longer of interest to the market it is easy to claim a headline that ‘banks won’t lend’.

The fact is they never would have offered money in those cases and it has little to do with the current economic climate.

What the bank can do for you is provide significant help and support to run a viable business.

And this isn’t just about lending money to buy property and equipment or provide working capital.

Take advantage of your bank by tapping into everything they can offer to help you.

Relationship managers at HSBC work closely with their businesses offering advice and, where applicable, the services of other specialists in the bank.

One example of this is our global markets specialists who help business that trade internationally and can be exposed to the volatility in foreign exchange save money by using our immense expertise in this field.

Banks are an incredibly useful resource for businesses so look beyond the borrowing and see what else you can access.

So, if you have decided that this is the time to buy, develop or extend your premises forget the headlines and see what we can offer.

HSBC has a range of lending solutions tailored for different needs.

So far this year, we have increased our lending by 7.4% year on year.