Ria Barlabas, head of Barclays Business, with the business bus in Maidstone

Bank chiefs insist they are lending more than ever despite claims by small traders that loan finance is hard to get, or too expensive.

Ria Barlabas, head of Barclays Business, said the bank had exceeded its lending goals last year. It approved two loans a minute and four-out-of-five applications. She said in Maidstone: "We are looking for viable businesses and often the customers who don't get approved are the ones who shout the loudest."

Its commitment to Project Merlin, under which banks pledge to step up lending, were taken very seriously. She said: "We are looking at helping our customers grow and achieving our lending goals."

Trevor Shave, senior relationship manager with Lloyds TSB, dismissed claims that banks were not lending enough.

He said: "We probably approve 90 per cent of requests."

He admitted that lessons were learnt from the days when money was "perhaps too easy to get".

Deals had to be sound but the bank was not afraid to take risks. He said: "We are not an open house - we will look at each proposition on its merits."

David Milham, of ASC Finance for Business, Faversham, said: "Our experience is that Barclays, Santander and Lloyds do have an appetite to lend to well-structured, small and medium size businesses, however the loans do have to be secured."