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

By Trevor Sturgess

Banks have been likened to "poachers pleading to gamekeepers" over loan appeals as one major bank insists it is lending more than ever.

The British Bankers Association has launched an appeals system whereby small firms can appeal if a loan request is turned down. The appeal is heard by a third party in the same bank.

Andrew Aves of the Federation of Small Businesses in Kent and Medway said it was "like a poacher appealing to a gamekeeper."

The appeal should be heard by an independent body such as the Banking Ombudsman. He also called for the reintroduction of the Financial Intermediary Service set up by Business Link and which mediated between banks and businesses.

Meanwhile, Barclays business bus was in Maidstone this week to promote its second annual "Take One Small Step" campaign to find an entrepreneur in Kent or the rest of the region with the best commercial idea.

A £50,000 prize will be presented to the regional winner.

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

She added that the bank took its commitments to Project Merlin, under which the big banks pledge to step up lending to firms, very seriously. "We are looking at helping our customers grow and achieving our lending goals."

David Milham, of ASC Finance for Business, based in Faversham, added: "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."

• More details about Barclays Take One Small Step competition at www.takeonesmallstep.co.uk