With financial pressure mounting for many companies banks are one of the first places they are turning to for help - but are they delivering?

Social media has been carrying plenty of comment that getting help with loans or overdraft extensions is not the simple task many had hoped, and Punchline wants to know what your experience is.

It was two weeks ago now that Chancellor Rishi Sunak said companies would be able to walk into banks to talk about Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans of up to £5m to help them survive the crisis.

Mr Sunak said: "Any good business in financial difficulty who needs access to cash to pay their rent, the salaries of their employees, pay suppliers, or purchase stock, will be able to access a government-backed loan, on attractive terms."

But according to anecdotal reports, national news channels and the FSB thousands of firms are struggling to get through to their banks or being told they are simply not eligible for help.

Yesteday (April 1), in the wake of the FSB warning up to a million companies could close because they could be denied emergency loans, the business secretary, Alok Sharma, issued banks a stark warning.

"It would be completely unacceptable if any banks were unfairly refusing funds to good businesses in financial difficulty," said Mr Sharma.

Gloucester MP Richard Graham had already raised his concerns on Twitter and Facebook as the pressure on banks to deliver increases.

Am concerned some businesses not getting help they need from banks for zero interest Business Interruption Loans. These shd be processed fast - decisions about staff b4 Apr payroll critical & do NOT need security <£250k. We need banks to step up. Do share your experience so far

— Richard Graham (@RichardGrahamUK) April 1, 2020

The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans Scheme (CBILS) is available through 40-plus accredited British Business Bank's lenders and partners.