(Teleborsa) – The Market Watch of Banca Ifis highlights the technological attitude of SMEs in the financial sector: 64% today prefer online banking, but the relationship of trust remains fundamental.
The human and trusting relationship is important, indeed fundamental in the choice of a banking partner for Italian small and medium-sized enterprises that are increasingly comfortable in using digital channels. These are the main evidences of the latest Market Watch created by Banca Ifis in collaboration with Format Research, on a representative sample of over 500 SMEs.
From the point of view of financial leverage, companies are today strongly anchored in self-financing but have been able to make the best use of the guaranteed and subsidized loans provided by the Government, investing in business development.
Specialization and trust: what companies ask for
Three is the number of banks which, on average, an SME turns to, a number that rises to over four if we look at companies with more than 50 employees. For 95% of entrepreneurs, having more banks is a necessity: makes it possible to choose which institute to turn to, recognizing the value of specialization. The Internet is now considered by SMEs as a privileged channel: online banking is chosen in 64% of cases (percentage which rises to 77% in the Agri-food and Automotive sectors) for multiple financial services. However, in the event of a loan request, Italian companies prefer the direct relationship with a consultant in the branch (65%) but already 35% use digital platforms for financing transactions.
Self-financing is the most valuable source
According to the Market Watch, the main items of an SME’s funding are self-financing (52%), medium and long-term bank credit (22%) and short-term bank credit (10%). The composition remained unchanged during the pandemic and no change in the mix is expected in the post Covid.
The public shield helps to look to the future
The pandemic has seen a 24% growth in the use of state loan guarantees and subsidized loans. If in the pre-Covid period about 36% of companies used it, today the average has risen to 60% but over time it is destined to drop to 45%. All production sectors involved.
Banca Ifis’ Ifis4business program continues
The digitalization and omnichannel business services project of Banca Ifis, a player active in specialty finance with a complete range of products and services, is advancing: factoring, advisory and equity investment, structured finance, leasing and medium and long-term financing for industrial investments . After the opening in July of the “Ifis4business” platform to some large factoring customers, in the coming months the Bank will extend access to digital services to all factoring customers and, within the first half of 2022, to all products in the portfolio.
The Bank, which digitally acquired over a fifth of new customers in the first six months of the year, has already announced the doubling of investments in digital marketing.
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