The research study examines the role of commercial banks in financing small scale enterprises in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State. The primary purpose of the study is to examine how SMEs can be developed through the intervention of the banking sector. Descriptive research design was adopted. The population of the study is the entire SMEs in Ekiti state and United Bank for Africa (UBA). Questionnaires were used as an instrument of primary data collection. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the sample; correlation analysis was employed using chi-square. Findings revealed that there is a positive correlation between loans grants by banks and the growth and development of SMEs in Ekiti State also, that SMEs cannot be concentrated in Ekiti State if they are not effectively financed due to the relationship that exists between the banks and SMEs. It was recommended that guidelines/schemes by commercial banks to finance SMEs needs to be flexible to accommodate the small and medium scale entrepreneurs.
Keywords: Commercial Banks, Indigenization Decree, Industrial Development Centre, Small and Medium Scale enterprises., Small-scale industry, Sole Proprietorship
