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Banking advisory for European SMEs

Banking advisory for European SMEs helps mid-sized companies get better pricing, service and credit from banks that see them as small clients. Owners, CFOs and finance directors hire FIRMA Advisory to review accounts, FX and fees, then to negotiate. The outcome is lower banking cost and a relationship the company controls.

When companies bring us in

SMEs bring us in when they feel undervalued by their banks but lack the data or time to push back. These are the usual triggers.

  • The relationship manager changes often, and requests take weeks to get an answer.
  • Supplier payments outside the euro area are converted at rates nobody negotiated.
  • The company holds accounts in several countries, with separate fees for each.
  • A family-owned business has banked with the same institution for decades without a review.
  • Expansion into new markets needs multi-currency accounts and local payment capabilities.
  • A credit request was declined or priced well above expectations.

What we deliver

You receive a clear picture of your banking cost and a negotiation plan sized for a mid-sized company. The table shows each deliverable and its timing.

DeliverableWhat it containsTypical timing
Banking cost reviewFees, FX margins and account charges across every bank and country.End of phase 1
Account structure designSEPA and multi-currency accounts, the number of banks and the role of each.End of phase 2
Negotiation planPrioritized requests, the evidence behind them and the right timing for each bank.End of phase 2
Negotiation supportPreparation and support for each bank conversation, with follow-up on agreed terms.Phase 3
Banking playbookSimple rules for pricing reviews, FX execution and bank communication going forward.End of phase 3

How an engagement runs

Engagements run in three phases, sized for a company without a dedicated treasury team. Your finance team stays involved without carrying the workload.

  1. Review, weeks 1 to 2. We collect statements, fee schedules and FX records from each bank. The cost and the gaps are documented in plain terms.
  2. Design and plan, weeks 2 to 4. We design the account structure and agree negotiation priorities with the owner or CFO. Each request is backed by evidence.
  3. Negotiation and follow-up, weeks 4 to 10. We support each bank conversation and check that agreed terms appear on statements. The playbook keeps the gains in place.

What changes for the client

Outcomes are measured on statements and FX records, so the owner or CFO can see them directly. These are the outcome types we report.

  • Fee lines removed, repriced or waived across banks and countries.
  • FX cost on supplier and customer payments, in basis points against mid-market.
  • Accounts and banks rationalized, with the related fees removed.
  • Credit terms compared with the bank's first offer.
  • Named contacts and response expectations agreed with each bank.

Why an independent former banker

Global banks organize coverage by client size, and mid-sized companies often land in the least senior tier. Federico Lleonart worked in cash management at J.P. Morgan and Barclays in Amsterdam, and he knows that segmentation from the inside.

Why are mid-sized European companies low priority at global banks?

Global banks size coverage teams by expected wallet. Mid-sized companies generate less revenue per client, so they often get less senior attention and standard pricing.

Each client still carries onboarding and compliance cost for the bank. That pushes banks toward standard terms rather than tailored ones.

How should SEPA and multi-currency accounts be structured?

Within the euro area, SEPA credit transfers and direct debits let one euro account serve many countries. Some SMEs keep local accounts out of habit rather than need.

For non-euro flows, multi-currency accounts avoid automatic conversions on every payment. The right setup depends on your suppliers, customers and currencies.

How does a smaller client negotiate?

Concentrating business with fewer banks makes the company more valuable to each one. Timing requests around facility renewals or new business adds weight.

Evidence matters more than size. A specific, benchmarked request is hard for a bank to refuse outright.

FIRMA Advisory sells no banking products and takes no commissions from banks. Owners and CFOs work directly with a senior banking consultant, not a junior team.

For consulting firms and private equity teams

Consulting firms bring us in when a European SME client needs banking expertise that sits outside their own practice. Private equity teams use us on smaller platform and add-on companies, and our partner model explains how we work with you.

Frequently asked questions

These are the questions owners and CFOs of European SMEs ask first. Each answer is direct.

Is our company too small to negotiate with a global bank?

No. Size affects the starting point, not the outcome. Banks respond to clear, evidenced requests and to the business a client can move. We help you show the value of your relationship and ask for specific changes, which works for mid-sized companies as well as large ones.

How much does it cost, and how is it structured?

Engagements for SMEs are scoped to stay proportionate to the savings available. Most start with a fixed scope review of banking cost, then continue into negotiation as a short project. Part of the fee can be tied to verified savings where that fits. See engagement models and fees.

How long does it take?

A typical SME engagement runs 6 to 10 weeks from review to agreed terms. The review comes first, so you see the opportunity early. Bank response times set the pace of the negotiation phase, and we keep pressure on dates throughout.

Do you work remotely or on site?

Most of the work runs remotely, which keeps it efficient for a mid-sized team. Your team only needs to provide documents and join key calls. Important bank meetings can be held in person where that helps. On site days are agreed in the scope. Travel is billed at cost and approved in advance.

Which countries and languages do you cover?

We work with SMEs across Europe, and with European companies operating in the United States and Latin America. Federico Lleonart works in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French, so local banks in those languages are approached directly and without intermediaries.

Is our information kept confidential?

Yes. Statements, pricing and correspondence are used only for your engagement and are never shared with banks or other clients without your approval. Client names and results are never published without explicit consent. Documents can be shared through a secure folder you control.
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Related insight: Why European SMEs get the worst pricing explains what to do about it.

Engage

Get the terms a well-run company deserves.

Book a short call with a banking consultant who knows how global banks segment their clients. We will outline what a review of your banking would cover.

Book a 30 minute call [email protected]