Australia's St George Bank is to offer free office space to start-ups through a network of 'Business Hubs' across the country.
The bank says it will recruit an additional 50 employees to provide support for small businesses and commit an additional $2 billion in funds to cater for increased demand for credit from the sector.
The St George Business Hubs will comprise fully-serviced office space, one receptionist and free access to computing and printing resources.
The first space will open in November in Chatswood, Sydney, with more sites planned across the country, including a second Sydney site in the central business district.
In concert with the opening of the Hubs, the bank is also rolling out a new 'Business Connect' service to 150 branches across the country, providing SMEs with access to business bankers via a video link.