NEW YORK — Ames Department Stores Inc., the struggling discount retailer, won court approval Tuesday for $250 million in financing it needs to keep merchandise on the shelves of its 680 stores.

U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Howard C. Buschman III authorized the financing late Tuesday after a group of 33 banks withdrew its objections to the plan.

In his order, the judge said Ames did not have sufficient working capital or cash to finance its operations.

“If we want to save this company, it takes money and competent business. I know how to do the rest,” Stephen L. Pistner, the company’s new chief executive officer, said.