Cash is the oxygen of your business and therefore it is important that you take time to consider the impact that a natural disaster will have on cash flow.
The banks are generally proactive in their response to natural disasters, making contact with their customers. In previous years, the banks across the board have indicated a willingness to assist customers on a case by case basis.
The key message from financiers is to take the initiative to talk to them and to be properly prepared to discuss the impact on your business directly or alternatively as a result of the impact on your customers and suppliers. Treat your banker as a partner in the business. Keep them fully informed during this period.
Plan early if you are going to need additional funding to get restarted. Make sure your banker is across your plans and understands where you are going.
Most banks have hardship teams offering a range of services to help customers affected by bushfires.
- Services can include:
- A deferral of scheduled loan repayments
- Waiving fees and charges, including break costs on early redemption of Farm Management Deposits
- Debt consolidation to help make repayments more manageable
- Restructuring existing loans free of the usual establishment fees
- Deferring interest payments on a case-by-case basis
- Offering additional finance to help cover cash flow shortages
- Deferring upcoming credit card payments
- Increasing emergency credit card limits.
- Deferring or re-prioritising (where possible) major items of expenditure
- For more information, or to find the number for your bank’s hardship team go to https://www.ausbanking.org.au
Many of the big banks will release information to assist disaster impacted customers. For more information on how your bank can help you, see below.
Find your bank’s financial hardship teams on the web or on the phone numbers listed hereunder:
DISCLAIMER
This information is general in nature and we urge you to contact your usual Grant Thornton advisor or email our office at communications@au.gt.com should you have any questions.
Disaster Recovery & Relief
