HSBC says it is committed to supporting UK businesses in 2012.

The banking giant claims it has met its Merlin lending intentions in 2011, which were agreed with the UK Government, exceeding the full year target to provide £38.8 billion of lending facilities to UK business customers and supplying gross new lending facilities of more than £11.7 billion to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).

HSBC says it plans to lend more to SMEs in 2012, providing there is “suitable”” demand.