SmallBusinessNewz

It's a common, if unfortunate, type of scenario.  The Red Cross runs low on blood after a disaster.  Grocery stores have less food before big storms.  And it seems that UK banks are making things harder on small businesses even as these businesses need more help than usual.

It may not be fair to point fingers, considering that banks have, like the rest of the global economy, been experiencing a lot of problems.  Faced with the possibility of going bankrupt or getting acquired, every company is going to try to stem its cash outflow first.

Still, the Forum of Private Business has some discouraging things to say.  In a statement, the group indicated that it's "concerned at reports that high street banks are beginning to reduce credit facilities and increase overdraft charges at a time when small businesses are most in need of funding."

Also, "Following the merger of HBOS and Lloyds TSB, the FPB is warning that less choice between banks could mean that, as the credit crunch continues, the services offered to small firms are diminished."

This seems to be meant as more of a heads up than anything, since there's not much most people can do about the situation.   Here's hoping our friends in the UK just managed to make all their necessary bank trips before the mess started to snowball.