Contracts signed under phase II with 26,745 businesses totaled HUF 1.4 trillion by the end of December.

Including the first phase of the scheme, from June-September 2013, financing under the FGS came to approximately HUF 2.126 tln, the central bank said. Credit went to about 31,000 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 tln in September 2014.