The Bank of France has published an update on its Credit Mediation scheme covering the first half of 2025, reporting 546 eligible cases and a 66% favourable outcome rate. While this confirms a continued improvement in successful mediations, the Bank highlights a further decline in the eligibility rate to 42%, largely linked to firms approaching the scheme too late. Most eligible requests came from very small enterprises (83% with fewer than 11 employees), mainly in services (51%) and commerce (24%). Mediators supported 320 companies, preserving 3,245 jobs, with EUR 96 million of credit requested; cases typically followed issues with previously granted financing, including the withdrawal of existing bank facilities and debt rescheduling. One quarter of eligible requests related to restructuring State-guaranteed loans (Prêts Garantis par l’État, PGE) under the sector agreement signed in early 2022 and extended to end-2026. PGE restructuring requests via Credit Mediation remain limited (136 in the first half of 2025; 1,620 since the procedure began) against a reported 80% repayment rate of outstanding PGE balances; successful outcomes reached 57% overall, enabling affected firms to reschedule PGE repayments (up to four years, potentially including a six-month moratorium) alongside a rebalancing of other medium-term bank loans and visibility on short-term lines. Separately, the Credit Mediator and the Business Mediator submitted a report to the delegated minister on improving business support pathways and have been tasked with coordinating implementation work on two priorities: better coordination among support actors and more systematic, proactive information to firms at inception or when early warning incidents are detected.
Bank of France 2025-07-18
Bank of France reports a 66% success rate for credit mediation as eligibility falls to 42% in the first half of 2025
The Bank of France reported on its Credit Mediation scheme for H1 2025, noting 546 eligible cases with a 66% favourable outcome rate, despite eligibility declining to 42%. Most requests came from very small enterprises, with mediators supporting 320 companies and preserving 3,245 jobs. The scheme also addressed restructuring State-guaranteed loans, with a 57% success rate, and emphasized improved coordination and proactive information for business support.