The new 'Guidelines' of the Entrepreneurs' Associations for facilitating access to bank financing repayment measures

Rome, 3 March 2025 - Joining forces to support Italian businesses, with this objective ABI and the main associations representing businesses - AGCI, Casartigiani, Cia-Agricoltori Italiani, CLAAI, CNA, Coldiretti, Confagricoltura, Confapi, Confartigianato, Confcooperative, Confedilizia, Confesercenti, Confetra, Confimi Industria, Confindustria, Copagri, Legacoop - have defined 'Guidelines' to help companies in temporary financial difficulty to obtain measures to facilitate the repayment of bank loans, such as the suspension of instalment payments.
The initiative was developed through dialogue and constructive discussion between bank and business representatives to identify the most effective paths to facilitate the repayment of bank loans.
The Guidelines explain, in a clear and simple manner even for non-specialists, the procedures to be followed and summarise the framework of the relevant European rules, providing companies with the necessary tools to handle any financial difficulties with greater awareness and preparation.
Particular emphasis is placed on the need for companies to intervene promptly, even with the support of trusted advisors, as soon as signs of difficulty emerge, and the importance of initiating and maintaining a constant dialogue with the bank on the progress of their economic-financial situation. This is also in order to favour a regular resumption of repayment once the suspension period is over.
The Guidelines also set out, in agreement with the Guarantee Fund for SMEs, ISMEA and SACE, the terms and conditions for obtaining the extension of the guarantees provided by the latter on loans for which the suspension of instalment repayment is requested.  
The initiative is part of the work of the Inter-Association Sharing Table (so-called CIRI Table), which is the forum for dialogue between the ABI and the main business associations on all issues of common interest relating in particular to access to credit.
In the context of the work of the Table, the ABI and the Business Associations agree that the European supervisory provisions on measures to facilitate the repayment of bank loans limit the possibility of banks applying these measures in favour of customers in temporary financial difficulty. That is why they have asked and are asking for their rapid modification to national and European institutions.