To supplement for collateral, there are a number of types of insurance available to SMEs that
can reduce the lender’s risk and potentially improve SME access to credit. Some of the more
typical schemes include loan or mutual guarantee schemes and export credit insurance. Basic
insurance, such as property and life insurance, also play an important role in SMEs’ access to
credit. If the business of the entrepreneur is not properly insured, banks are unlikely to grant
credit to the SME. This constitutes a problem especially in developing countries, where
insurance markets are not well developed and where basic insurance is either not available or
prices exceed the paying capacity of small businesses.