The Financial Intermediary & Broker Association (FIBA) has announced that SWIG Finance is the latest addition to its lender panel, following the recent appointments of Foundation Home Loans, Lloyds Bank, and HSBC.

SWIG Finance, which is a subsidiary of the South West Investment Group, provides loans to smaller SMEs throughout the South and South West from offices in Bristol, Exeter, Poole and Truro.

It typically lends unsecured loans of up to £250,000 over a five-year term.

Martin Reynolds (pictured), chair of FIBA, said: “It gives me great pleasure to welcome SWIG Finance to our lender panel. Its unique approach to supporting small businesses looking for financial solutions, often less accessible from bigger lending institutions with templated lending parameters, has been an essential lifeline to many in the South West, and will continue to be so for many years to come.

“I am particularly pleased to see its approach to welcoming business through an intermediary association populated by firms and individuals dedicated to finding suitable lending partners for their clients’ particular development requirements.”

Nicola Parker, senior business manager of SWIG Finance, added: “SWIG Finance supports hundreds of smaller SME businesses a year in the South and South West, and an increasingly important route to market for us is our intermediary network. By partnering with FIBA, we’re looking forward to expanding our network further and cultivating new relationships to help us support even more businesses.

“As our lending decisions are based on the potential of a business rather than its collateral, we can support businesses that may not be an easy fit for algorithm-driven lenders. The funding we provide is hugely beneficial to customers who might need a people-based approach.”