IBM Global Financing is offering customers what it is calling a smart financing toolkit that includes deferred payment options, zero percent financing and favorable pricing on used IBM gear.

Earlier this year, the vendor said it would be more aggressive with its financing options as a means to stimulate business, making available up to $5 billion in equipment and services leases for projects that map to its smart infrastructure initiative.

The current promotion, which starts this month and also is available through channel partners, includes deferred payments for 90 days on purchases of hardware, software and services.

After three months, customers can choose either at a 36-month fair market value lease, a full payout lease or software/services financing at competitive rates. The offering includes new and used IBM equipment.

IBM also is extending zero percent financing for software purchases in North America, Europe, Japan and Asia-Pacific. The offer is valid for software and services valued at a minimum of $5,000 over a 12-month term.

On most IBM Lotus products and solutions, customers can finance multi-year leases as low as zero percent financing for three years.

IBM said that its channel partners can leverage the software financing options.

The vendor also is promoting to mid-market clients a set of "Cost Buster" solutions that incorporate all of its financing promotions. IBM is listing the mid-market financing options on a secure web site available to channel partners.

IBM is offering rates as low as 1.5 percent to customers financing hardware solutions in the U.S. for projects underwritten by the federal government's stimulus package. The offer is good only through the end of this calendar year.