Commercial lending

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.

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.