SMEs struggling to get loans A poll for asset manager Channel Capital suggests that SMEs, including motorsport businesses, are struggling to get loans from high-street banks. The survey saw three-fifths of SMEs, including motorsport SME's, say they need funding to ease day-to-day cashflow issues, while more than two-thirds said they need funding to grow. Over half of the business leaders surveyed said high-street banks are too slow in assessing business loan applications. Almost half believe banks are reluctant to lend to smaller businesses.