A NEW survey of business owners has revealed a higher percentage than expected believed their banks have been supportive over recent months.

The research, carried out by insolvency trade body R3, found that 44 per cent of those polled thought that they had been able to get the backing they needed from their banks during the third quarter of this year.

In addition, only one in six said they disagreed strongly that their banks had been supportive.

Linda Farish, chairwoman of the North-East arm of R3 and director of Recovery and Insolvency at Newcastlebased accountants RMT, said: “It is perhaps surprising that, despite the negative tone of much of the public debate around bank behaviour, just one in six businesses actually agree with this stance, and our findings may point towards the presence of a vocal minority within the business community.

“While each company obviously has its own tale to tell, I have seen a significant general difference in the approach of the banks compared to their behaviour during the Nineties, when banks swiftly removed facilities – this time around, many of them are working with businesses, granting holidays on loan payments and extending loan periods.”