HSBC has earmarked £300 million of new lending for small and medium enterprises in Scotland.

The sum is part of a £6 billion lending pledge the bank is making to businesses around the UK.

Alison McGregor, chief executive for HSBC in Scotland said: "We know from our discussions with businesses across Scotland there is a confidence and an ambition to expand, in both domestic and international markets, and we have a role to play in supporting that growth."

The bank said it supported 1,661 new Scots SME customers in 2013.