Commercial lending

Sens. Ed Markey and Ron Wyden argue that the Small Business Administration neglected to warn small firms of the risks of merchant cash advances and closed off a key "escape route" from the resulting debts.

The 22nd State Bank in Mobile has been developing its national Always.bank subsidiary over the past year. 22nd State, which was founded in 1917, is eyeing a summertime launch for the online unit.

Stephen Curley, who was the chief banking officer at Phoenix-based Western Alliance, will join Maryland-based Eagle Bancorp as president and CEO in July. Eagle's current CEO previously announced plans to retire after the bank racked up big losses in office loans.

At its first-ever investor day, the Phoenix-based bank fended off questions stemming from two recently disclosed problem loans, including one that resulted in a $126 million charge-off.

As gas prices surge, small businesses — particularly in agriculture and transportation — have struggled to keep up. For banks, this has brought a combination of short-term benefits and long-term concerns.

The Iran war's disruptions have sent oil prices jumping, but drillers are far more disciplined than they were a decade ago.

The recent uptick in commercial-and-industrial lending is the result of disruption in the private credit sector, one economist argues. Bank analysts say the upheaval in private credit is one factor among many.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized a new version of a small-business lending rule that took 17 years to get over the finish line. Banks are still lobbying for the rule to be repealed.

Blue Owl Capital faces fresh scrutiny from investors and Wall Street analysts with the release of its first-quarter earnings.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is poised to finalize a contentious rule mandating the collection of demographic data on small-business borrowers, with the aim of ensuring equal access to credit for women and minority owners.

The Pittsburgh-based bank expanded its geographic footprint — and grew its loans and deposits during the first quarter — with the purchase of FirstBank in Colorado. Expenses also rose as the bank paid up to begin integrating its acquisition.

The CEO of America's largest bank said that private credit won't crash the banking system, but a credit cycle will be worse on the economy than people expect.

Australia's national Payments Systems Board has decided to remove surcharges on prepaid, debit and credit cards for electronic funds transfers, while lowering the cap on interchange fees. Also, Wells Fargo is seeking banks for its international payment network, and more in American Banker's global payments and fintech roundup.

Federal Reserve Vice Chair Michelle Bowman said the Fed's proposed capital framework will inject up to $100 billion into the economy to support small-business loans.

Square, Block's merchant-focused business line, is trying to make more loans to seasonal businesses and first-time clients.

Diligence Capital Management's proposals and board nominations for the beleaguered Eagle Bancorp won't be put before shareholders. But the activist investor isn't giving up the fight.

CEO René Jones told American Banker that private-credit firms are both partners and competitors. "Today, one of the concerns is that we don't have that full transparency, as much as we would like. And so we have to be cautious as we move in that direction," he said.

The Chicago-based lender service provider, which has helped build Northeast Bank in Maine into an SBA powerhouse, has expanded its capacity with an AI-driven technology upgrade.

Fintech lenders are positioned to help businesses navigate the latest round of global tariffs announced by President Trump, even as the volatility causes overall decreases in loans.

Affordability concerns are driving consumer demand for short-term liquidity products like earned wage access. A similar, credit union-backed lending alternative is gaining popularity as a way to amass new customers and, for banks, CRA credit.