UK lends 18 billion pounds to small firms hit by coronavirus

LONDON (Reuters) - British small businesses have borrowed more than 18 billion pounds ($22 billion) under a government-guaranteed coronavirus credit programme during its first three weeks of operation, outpacing bank lending under other schemes for bigger firms.The finance ministry offers banks a 100% credit guarantee on loans of up to 50,000 pounds under its Bounce Back Loan Scheme, after an 80% guarantee slowed lending under an earlier programme.The BBLS has lent 18.49 billion pounds to..