Reducing bank dependence in financing small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are key contributors to economic growth and job creation should help making them more resilient to financial shocks. Various non-bank debt financing alternatives are available and were the focus of a Roundtable discussion that this article draws on. Revitalising securitisation, tarnished during the crisis, is important, by making it safer, simpler and more transparent, and perhaps also by offering some (initial) government and regulatory support. Similarly, covered bonds can be attractive instruments for SME finance. For mid-sized companies, bond issuance and private placements may also provide useful alternatives. All these instruments can and should be tailored to fit the investors’ needs. There is no “silver bullet” for SME finance which is exceptionally complex due to the diversity of SMEs themselves. Data transparency, standardisation, regulatory support and raising awareness about available financing options should be among the issues to be addressed.

JEL classification: G1, G2, G23, G28

Keywords: SME finance, non-bank finance, (high-quality) securitisation, asset-backed securities (ABS), SME CLO (collateralised loan obligation), (covered) bonds, private placements, European DataWarehouse, Prime Collateralised Securities (PCS) initiative.