Polish Association of Loan Funds represents the interests of the loan funds from all over Poland on the national level and supports their activities to develop regions and the micro-, small and medium enterprise sector.

Polish Association of Loan Funds was established in 2002 by representatives of fifty Loan Funds from all over Poland operating as non-governmental and non-profit organisations. The Association was registered with the National Court Register on 27 October 2003 in Szczecin as Polish Association of Loan Funds.

The goal of the Association is to create and expand a strong and independent system of loan funds in Poland and thus to ensure effective financing of the start-up and growth of micro-, small and medium enterprises.

Small (including micro-) and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) always and invariably need financial assistance (a loan or soft loan) to start, run and develop their business.

In many cases they cannot obtain this assistance from the banking system. Relatively high procedural requirements of the commercial banks result in situation where entrepreneurs are forced to seek assistance from the loan fund system.

The financial assistance in the form of loans granted by loan funds prepares micro- and small entrepreneurs for future effective utilisation of financing from the banking system. The loan funds use their financing to create good lending history of the supported SMEs. This history is extremely important, because it facilitates further SME development financing by the banking system.

The loan fund system (currently developed and strengthened in Poland on the model of western countries) financially supporting the establishment and development of SMEs shows that it is justified and increasingly effective to operate/employ diverse SME financing systems, methods and tools.

Stronger interest in lending activities, defined as activities carried out by non-governmental and non-profit organisations established to help SMEs and people starting up their own business to get access to financing, makes it possible to start up, run and expand business operations effectively.

Polish Association of Loan Funds operates on the basis of the Law of Associations and its own Statutes. General Assembly of the Members is the supreme authority of PSFP. The Association is managed by Management Board appointed by the Founders of PSFP. Revising Committee is the controlling body of PSFP.

The objectives of the Polish Association of Loan Funds are listed below:

• Contribute to development of enterprise on the regional and national level

• Represent the loan funds’ interests on the national level and support their activities aimed at regional development

• Exercise an influence on development of economic legislation supporting the growth of enterprise

• Organise the process of sharing experience in the area of SME loan funds among the organisations supporting the growth of enterprise

• Co-operate with governmental (both central and local), legislative, non-governmental and financial authorities/organisations as well as other bodies which pursue similar objectives in the area of enterprise/loan fund development

• Promote loan funds

• Co-operate with domestic and foreign organisations in attraction of resources and creation of favourable conditions for financing and sharing experience related to loan funds

• Take initiatives and actions aimed at development of qualifications and knowledge of the Polish SMEs

• Support the economic integration of Poland with the European Union and facilitate co-operation between the loan funds and their foreign partners.

Polish Association of Loan Funds achieves its objectives through the following activities:

• assist in establishment and co-operation with other organisations supporting the growth of enterprise

• co-operate with and help the members of the Association and its supporting members e.g. by addressing legislative authorities, national administrative bodies, local governments and foreign organisations in issues related to loan funds

• carry out activities integrating the members of the Association

• present opinions about the system of loan funds in Poland

• organise meetings, seminars, conferences and other forms designed for sharing the experience of loan funds and small and medium entrepreneurs

• formulate opinions about financial and non-financial instruments contributing to the development of enterprise and resources allocated for implementation of those instruments, and present the opinions to legislative authorities and central and local government

• spread economic, legal, organisational and technical knowledge about financing of small and medium entrepreneurs as well as gather and disseminate information about operation of loan funds

• organise meetings, training events, advisory services and other forms of contacts between the loan funds and domestic/foreign organisations, focusing on how to attract resources to be used for loans granted to small and medium entrepreneurs

• initiate and conduct research into external financing instruments addressed to small and medium entrepreneurs and publish papers regarding those issues

• establish advisory teams to fulfil statutory tasks of the Association

• carry out other activities conducive to achievement of the statutory objectives of the Association

10.07.2009
In response to numerous requests of national and foreign institutions, PSFP publishes an English version of the PSFP Report no 11 as of the end of 2008. Again, this Report No 11/2009 constitutes the only source of knowledge (available to the micro, small and medium enterprises) about the alternative ways of financing business operations. Additionally, governmental agencies, local governments and organisations responsible for supporting the growth of enterprises in Poland receive the most up-to-date information about the supply side of the loan funds on the financial market, their condition and the resultant ability to support entrepreneurs. It is especially important in the context of the global economic crisis accompanied by even more limited access to banking finance.

We are bringing you into familiarize yourself with the Report !