🇮🇪 Europe & UK
Irish Business Funding After the Banking Exodus
With Ulster Bank and KBC gone, Irish SMEs have fewer lending options than any point in decades. Granton Hale provides the speed and flexibility that Ireland’s remaining banks can’t.
Check Your EligibilityMarket Overview
Business Funding in Ireland
Ireland’s SME funding landscape has been in upheaval. The exit of Ulster Bank and KBC Bank from the Irish market between 2022 and 2023 eliminated two of the five retail banks, concentrating commercial lending power in the hands of just three institutions: AIB, Bank of Ireland, and Permanent TSB. For Ireland’s 270,000 SMEs, this means less competition, longer processing times, and stricter lending criteria at precisely the time when many businesses need capital to grow.
Granton Hale Capital serves Irish businesses with funding solutions designed around the realities of the Irish market. We understand the seasonal dynamics of Irish tourism and hospitality, the cash-flow challenges of agricultural and food production businesses, and the growth capital needs of Ireland’s thriving tech and professional services sectors. Our underwriting model evaluates business bank statements and revenue trajectory — not the property-backed security that Irish banks almost universally demand.
Irish businesses can access funding from €20K to €10M across multiple products including unsecured business loans, revenue-based financing, and invoice factoring. The entire process — from application to funding decision — takes hours rather than the 6–8 weeks that AIB and Bank of Ireland typically require for commercial lending decisions.
Quick Facts
Country
🇮🇪 Ireland
Currency
EUR
Funding Range
€20K–€10M
Eligibility
- Registered Irish business (Limited Company, Partnership, or Sole Trader)
- Minimum 6 months trading history
- At least €8,000 in monthly turnover
- Active Irish business bank account
- Business operating in the Republic of Ireland
The Challenge
Why Ireland Businesses Struggle to Get Funded
Banking Consolidation Reduced Options Dramatically
Ireland went from five retail banks to three in under two years. The remaining institutions absorbed hundreds of thousands of accounts but did not proportionally increase their commercial lending appetite, creating a bottleneck where creditworthy businesses wait months for decisions.
Property Collateral Is Almost Always Required
Irish banks are notoriously conservative with unsecured lending. Even for loans of €50K, directors are routinely asked to pledge personal property. In a country where housing supply is constrained and many business owners rent, this requirement excludes a huge portion of viable applicants.
Rural and Regional Access Gaps
As banks close branches across rural Ireland, businesses outside Dublin, Cork, Galway, and Limerick find it increasingly difficult to access relationship-based lending. Digital-only processes at the remaining banks often fail to account for the realities of agricultural, tourism, and trades businesses in regional areas.
SBCI and Microfinance Ireland Limitations
Government-backed bodies like the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland and Microfinance Ireland serve important roles but are limited in scale, product range, and speed. Maximum amounts are often too small for growth-stage businesses, and processing still takes weeks.
Available Products
Funding Solutions in Ireland
One application gives you access to multiple funding products tailored for the Ireland market. View all solutions
Unsecured Business Loans
Loans from €20K to €2M without property security. Underwritten on business performance, not the value of your home or commercial premises.
Revenue-Based Financing
Flexible repayment based on your weekly turnover. Particularly well-suited to Ireland’s seasonal tourism, hospitality, and agricultural businesses.
Invoice Factoring
Release up to 85% of the value of your outstanding invoices within 24 hours. Ideal for Irish B2B businesses waiting 45–90 days for payment from larger firms and government contracts.
Merchant Cash Advances
Advance on future card terminal transactions. Payments align with your daily sales — popular with pubs, restaurants, and retail businesses across Ireland.
Industries
Key Industries We Fund in Ireland
We welcome all industries — these are among the most common in this market.
FAQ
Questions About Funding in Ireland
Do I need to be a limited company registered with the CRO?
No. While limited companies registered with the Companies Registration Office are eligible, we also fund partnerships and sole traders with valid Revenue registrations. The available products and maximum amounts may vary by business structure.
Can I get funding if my bank is moving my account due to the Ulster Bank/KBC closures?
Yes. Many of our Irish clients came to us during the bank transition period. We base our decisions on your business performance, not your current banking stability. As long as you have an active Irish business bank account — even a recently opened one — you can apply.
Is property collateral required?
No. Unlike Irish banks, our unsecured products do not require you to pledge your home or other personal property. We assess your business on revenue performance, trading history, and financial trajectory.
Do you work with Enterprise Ireland or Local Enterprise Office-backed businesses?
Absolutely. Businesses that have received Enterprise Ireland grants, LEO supports, or SBCI-facilitated loans can still access our funding. In many cases, our capital complements these programmes by providing faster, more flexible working capital alongside government supports.
What documents do I need for an Irish application?
The core requirements are 3–6 months of business bank statements, proof of Irish business registration (CRO number or Revenue registration), and a valid form of ID. We do not require business plans, audited accounts, or tax clearance certificates at application stage.
Explore More
Other Markets We Serve
Ready to Get Funded in Ireland?
30-second application. No hard credit pull. Decisions in hours.