Commercial lending

The latest directive, which takes effect in March, allows only U.S. citizens and nationals to seek government-guaranteed financing. It's drawing criticism from Democrats in Congress, small-business advocates and some lenders.

The Chicago-based, $261 million-asset Metropolitan Capital Bank & Trust was placed in receivership and its assets sold to Detroit-based First Independence Bank, costing the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s Deposit Insurance Fund an estimated $19.7 million.

Banks will start reporting their fourth-quarter earnings on Tuesday. But it's what bankers say about the next 12 months that will probably attract the most interest from industry observers.

Investors in alternative assets like private equity, private capital and venture capital often lock their money in for years, but Pluto's founders say its marketplace matches these wealthy investors who need cash with banks and investment firms willing to lend against those illiquid assets. 

Democratic senators are attributing a recent decline in lending activity to a Trump administration regulation that puts new restrictions on borrowers with foreign ownership.

A new bill from Sens. Katie Britt, R-Ala., and Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., would streamline the Securities and Exchange Commission's small-business surveys, which the agency uses to consider the needs of small businesses in rulemakings.

PayPal and other fintechs already offer small business loans based on future payment flows, creating a competitive market.

Midland States Bancorp has completed three major asset sales in the past 12 months, exiting national business lines and shifting focus to its core community banking franchise.

The latest linkup with the software provider Wave gives Fundbox access to more than 350,000 potential borrowers. It's the fourth major partnership that Texas-based Fundbox has announced in 2025.

A recent $450 million loan is par for the course at Beal Bank USA, which has developed a reputation for seeking out nine-figure loans backed by tangible property.

The West Reading-based bank has opened three offices in California and two in Nevada, continuing its strategy of establishing a presence in high-growth markets around the country, CEO Sam Sidhu said.

Philadelphia-area Citadel Credit Union is starting to see a payoff from a major investment in its business banking operations. 

BayFirst Financial, which has reported problems with SBA loans, expects to reach an agreement with its regulators in connection with credit administration and other issues.

FirstSun Capital Bancorp plans to buy First Foundation in an effort to accelerate its Southern California growth. The $785 million transaction follows FirstSun's failed takeover of Seattle-based HomeStreet.

In an environment of persistent economic unease, banks have a unique opportunity to help small businesses, Sekou Kaalund, U.S. Bank's head of branch and small business banking, said at American Banker's 2025 Small Business Banking conference.

The Long Island-based bank hasn't been profitable in eight quarters, but executives maintain that it's on the right path, citing more loan book diversity, lower expenses and an improved margin.

The company is leveraging its bank charter and strong customer acquisition, with app logins up nearly 50% from borrowers.

The Buffalo-based bank said Thursday that the paring of its CRE loan book, which has nearly halved in volume over the last three years, may be near its inflection point.

A number of banks experienced major increases in 7(a) lending activity during SBA's recently completed fiscal year, as program-wide loan volume topped $37 billion for the first time.

BayFirst Financial in St. Petersburg shuttered a national small-dollar 7(a) loan program in August. Now the $2.4 billion institution, which has been one of the nation's most active SBA lenders over the past decade, is making a clean break from the business.