BANKS are now providing more funding to businesses in Scotland, according to the head of a Glasgow-based commercial lender who last year declared they were turning down plenty of "attractive propositions".

Giving his view of the mainstream bank lending climate, WM Mann Group chairman Bruce Mann said: "I think it is becoming easier for good applicants, which is positive. I am reasonably confident there is more funding being put out by national banks this year than last year.

"I would say that funding, although it may be still difficult to achieve, it is available, but the deal has got to make sense, not only for the customer but for the funder."

Asked if he would include Royal Bank of Scotland and Bank of Scotland owner Lloyds Banking Group among those which were making more funding available this year, Mr Mann said: "Yes. I probably would."

Mr Mann, whose firm lends mainly to independent players in sectors including leisure and hospitality, manufacturing and property investment and also provides finance for some residential developments, has in the past been forthright with his observations of a lack of bank funding for businesses.

In March last year, he declared that he was seeing plenty of "attractive propositions" which had been turned down by big banks.

He said then: "Certainly, when financial advisers or firms of accountants phone me in respect of their existing clients, they say it is a waste of time speaking to the RBS. I don't know if that is true or not but that is what I have been told."

RBS said at the time that it was "surprised" by Mr Mann's remarks.

Mr Mann's contrasting observations this year about availability of finance may provide some hope for small and medium-sized businesses seeking funding.

However, surveys continue to show that firms view availability of finance as a key constraint on their future success.

The Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland has also continued to highlight a tough bank lending environment.

Although he sees an improvement in availability of funding for businesses from the big banks, Mr Mann highlighted his view that these major institutions could still be slow to make decisions on loans. He observed greater centralisation of lending decisions within the big banks, an aspect which is often highlighted by firms seeking to borrow money.

Mr Mann said: "We have a reputation for providing a very fast answer. Although funding may be coming from the national banks, they are not renowned for fast responses. That is the advantage Mann... has because we have a single office and, because I make the decisions, it is a more simple application process."

He added that decision-making on loans within the big banks was becoming "more centralised for smaller sums".

Mr Mann offered his expert view on the funding climate as commercial lending and property group WM Mann announced pre-tax profits of £828,834 for 2012.

This was down slightly from £892,220 in 2011.

Mr Mann said he considered the results to be "satisfactory" given the "current difficult trading circumstances".

The family-owned WM Mann Group's shareholder funds stood at £16.6 million at December 31, up about £300,000 on a year earlier.

The group's WM Mann & Co (Investments) commercial finance arm is now concentrating its activities on providing secured loans of up to £500,000, having previously provided funding from £50,000 to more than £1m.

WM Mann Group said that its Overton Properties arm "continues to perform satisfactorily". This business owns shops in locations including Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews, Dunfermline, Oban, and Fort William.

Mr Mann highlighted a pick-up in interest from potential retail tenants in taking up properties in better locations. He highlighted WM Mann Group's strategy over the years of buying retail properties in sought-after locations, such as Byres Road in Glasgow and in the most popular parts of smaller towns.

Mr Mann, his brother Ainsley, and sister Sarah Hutcheon between them own about two-thirds of WM Mann Group. The remainder is owned by The WM Mann Foundation. WM Mann Group highlighted the foundation's donation of £100,000 to Scottish Opera to assist with the refurbishment of Glasgow's Theatre Royal.

Asked for his view of the economic outlook, Mr Mann replied: "I am not sure it is getting any better. I am not sure it is going to get any more difficult. I think people have adapted to it now."