Non-bank lender Linked Finance has surpassed €400m in cumulative lending to Irish small and medium-sized businesses, reaching the milestone alongside backing its 5,000th SME since its establishment in 2013, according to RTÉ News. The figures cap what the company describes as its strongest start to a year in over a decade, with 2026 lending running approximately 65% ahead of the same period in 2025.

RTÉ News reported that the average loan size has grown significantly since the company's launch, rising from approximately €18,000 in 2013 to around €125,000 today, reflecting the increased scale and ambition of the businesses Linked Finance now serves. The lender estimates that the businesses it has funded have collectively supported 50,000 jobs across Ireland.

Niall O'Grady, CEO of Linked Finance, said passing €400m in lending and backing more than 5,000 Irish businesses were milestones the company was enormously proud of, and added: "When we started in 2013, the average loan was around €18,000; today it is approximately €125,000, which tells you how much more ambitious Irish SMEs have become and how willing they are to invest in their own growth."

O'Grady also noted the structural shift in the Irish lending market over the past decade, saying: "With so many banks having stepped back from the Irish market over the past decade, Linked Finance is better placed than ever to back great Irish businesses."

The company said that despite persistent inflationary pressures, geopolitical instability and global trade uncertainty, it is seeing a rebound in confidence among Irish SMEs, with strong demand for finance suggesting more businesses are moving ahead with investment and expansion plans.

Demand is coming from an expanding range of sectors. Alongside established borrowers in retail, professional services and hospitality, Linked Finance is seeing growth in newer categories including gyms, data centres, wellness and childcare. Almost two-thirds of borrowers are based outside Dublin, spanning every region of the country.

O'Grady said lending was running well ahead of where the company was at the same point in 2025, applications were strong, and the firm was funding businesses in sectors that barely featured on its books a few years ago. He added: "We now approve most loans within 24 hours, providing Irish SMEs with the speed, flexibility and certainty they need to invest and grow."

See the full report on Linked Finance's €400m lending milestone.