Commercial lending

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.

The Small Business Administration plans to bar green-card holders from receiving federal small-business loans. The result will be devastating for large swathes of the U.S. economy, costing jobs and cutting tax revenue.

Some distressed companies that tapped the Federal Reserve's Main Street Lending Program say they've been crushed by the agency's hard-line stance on modifications.

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.