Contracts signed under phase II, with 18,705 businesses, totaled HUF 782.3 bln by early July.

Including the first phase of the scheme, in June-September 2013, financing under the FGS came to about HUF 1,500 bln, the central bank said. The credit went to almost 23,500 businesses.

Under the FGS, The MNB provides zero-interest refinancing to banks which they can lend to SMEs at an APR not exceeding 2.5%.

The central bank launched phase II of the scheme in October 2013 for an initial volume of HUF 500 bln which it raised to HUF 1,000 bln in September 2014.