Funding Pulse: Your Guide to the Latest Irish SME Funding Market Trends
Funding Pulse is our quarterly report on the key trends shaping SME funding across Ireland. Compiled in partnership with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI), it offers a clear, grounded view of how the funding landscape is evolving.
Our second edition, Q4 2025, is here – providing a timely end-of-year perspective. It highlights a more cautious lending environment, with borrowing softening and costs edging higher, while strong deposit growth and continued capital markets activity point to well-capitalised businesses taking a more measured approach.
Here are three highlights from the report:
- Lending slows as caution sets in. SME lending eased in Q4, with €1.03bn advanced during the quarter and total outstanding credit falling to €15.7bn – continuing the downward trend through 2025.
- Cost of funding ticks upward. The average interest rate on new SME loans rose to 5.3%, up from the previous quarter and reflecting tighter funding conditions.
- Capital markets remain highly active. Over €6bn was raised in Q4, driven largely by debt issuance, alongside continued momentum in sectors such as energy, aviation and life sciences.
For more detail on these trends, and the full breakdown across lending, deposits, venture and M&A activity, you can read the complete report here.
Whether you’re running a growing business, funding one, or advising those who do, Funding Pulse is built to give you clarity and confidence as you plan what’s next.
