Despite the fact that financial institutions have identified the SME sector as a fast growing sector in the country, there are several constraints serving as bottlenecks to SMEs in accessing finance from financial institutions. This study examines difficulties SMEs face in accessing loan, difficulties financial institutions face in lending to SMEs and the impact of loan on the profitability of SMEs. In conducting this study, questionnaires were administered to SMEs. Credit officers in the selected banks were interviewed. The following major findings came to the fore; Interest rate on loan to the SMEs is extremely high, Repayment periods on loans to SMEs are too short making it very difficult to embark on any developmental or expansion projects, most SMEs, do not understand terms and conditions, and also oblivious of the interpretation of the percentage charged on the loans. It was also found out that small business owners normally give false information when accessing loan from financial institutions. The study suggested that government should institute some form of tax incentives to financial institutions involved in SME lending and formulate regulatory laws to help loans recovery. SME associations must be established to unite them and serve as guarantors whenever loans are accessed.
Keywords: SME, debt financing, financial institutions
