Bank's backing for small firms as economic confidence returns

Investing for Growth is a business planning service which includes a "flexible approach" to lending.

The benefits include loan repayment holidays, interest-only repayments and extended loan and credit terms.

Yorkshire Bank believes that customers who take up the package will be able to invest more cash into their business, which could lead to jobs being created.

Mike Williams, the executive general manager of Yorkshire Bank's Integrated Financial Solutions, said: "There seems to be a feeling that there's light at the end of the tunnel. We're happy to talk to anybody with a decent business plan."

Richard Norrington, regional director for Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks in Yorkshire, said: "Following every recession, there comes a point when businesses feel confident enough to start investing again.

"The challenge for trading businesses is to identify when this point is and what to do about it."

He said both banks believed that the time was right to offer a further support package for local firms.

The banks operate more than 70 Financial Solutions Centres across the UK.