Funding the 99.7%: How to Fix SMB Finance

Addressing SMB commercial banking funding gaps is the critical focus of this session featuring Deloitte commercial banking leaders. While small and medium-sized businesses represent 99.7 percent of Canadian firms and contribute nearly half of the national GDP, they continue to encounter systemic barriers that impede their financial agility. This discussion dives deep into recent survey data highlighting why one in three businesses still cannot secure the capital they need to scale. By analyzing SMB commercial banking funding gaps, the speakers reveal that traditional lending models often rely on misfit products and complex approval processes that do not align with the rapid pace of modern entrepreneurship.

The technical insights shared in this session explore the disconnect between bank risk appetites and the actual needs of the Canadian market. Participants will learn how long wait times and cumbersome documentation requirements exacerbate SMB commercial banking funding gaps, forcing many firms to seek alternative, often more expensive, financing routes. To bridge these SMB commercial banking funding gaps, banks must adopt concrete moves such as streamlining digital approvals and creating tailored credit products. This session serves as a roadmap for financial institutions to unlock growth by effectively solving SMB commercial banking funding gaps through data-driven innovation and customer-centric strategies.

• Technical analysis of Deloitte survey data regarding loan approval friction and long wait times.
• Strategic shifts required for banks to better serve the unique risk profiles of Canadian small businesses.
• Actionable frameworks for financial leaders to modernize their commercial lending portfolios.

Watch the full session to discover how the industry can evolve to support the backbone of the Canadian economy.