Brasília, 3/4/2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Small businesses with annual revenue of up to R$500,000 will be eligible for loans from the Banco do Brasil.

The loans are intended to strengthen working capital and will vary from R$500 to R$5,000, to be repaid in 12 installments with interest at 2.25% per month. The credit line will be funded by the Worker Assistance Fund (FAT) and the bank itself. The idea is to make some R$200 million available between now and the end of the year.

There are an estimated 372,000 small businesses in the country that could be eligible for the loans which will be free of red tape and guaranteed with credit cards. (AB)