European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have access to nearly twice the amount of funding as their U.S. counterparts, yet bank loans remain the most common form of SME finance in Europe, according to a recent press release.

This leaves huge scope for small businesses to tap additional funding sources for loans, bonds and equities, finds new research by the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME). However, many SMEs remain unaware of the options available to them.