Banks must do more for small businesses

North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín has called on local banks to do more to help small and medium sized businesses in the north of the city.

"The CBI and the Federation of Small Businesses have expressed their concern this week about the failure of banks to provide the necessary credit to support small and medium sized businesses here," she said.

"This is in spite of the massive injection of public money being made available to banks to address these issues.

"Businesses are still being forced into closing resulting in people losing their jobs and the resulting effects it has on families.

"Banks have a corporate responsibility to help and support businesses in this current economic climate. The money was not given to protect banks alone and shore up their future.

"More needs to be done to secure guarantees from banks that if they receive public money they must ensure that it goes back into the economy in a way that will keep peoples jobs safe, and keep local businesses open."