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Elevated interest rates, economic uncertainty and financial sector fragility exposed by recent bank failures threaten to stunt lending activity.

Robert Purcell is CFO at Billtrust. Previously, he was CFO at Talend, a global software technology firm. Prior to Talend, he was payments CFO at Paysafe. He was named CFO of the Year by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal and was a nominee for Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

The Financial Stability Oversight Council issued a pair of proposals that would enhance transparency into how the council designated nonbank firms and activities as systemically risky and simplify its process for designations.

The banking unit of billionaire Hiroshi Mikitani's Rakuten Group raised about 83.3 billion yen ($623 million) selling the shares.

Pagaya is exploring an acquisition of Sunlight, which helps homeowners finance rooftop solar panels, people with knowledge of the matter said.

The proposal to streamline the Small Business Administration's signature program and expand the number of available lending licenses would benefit underserved communities.

Ryan Metcalf is the director of public affairs for Funding Circle U.S.

The volume of bank acquisitions — either by credit unions or community banks — has dropped considerably so far in 2023. Experts, including prospective buyers, cite a combination of ongoing regulatory and economic pressures.

The regional firm, whose parent is the 10th largest bank in the world by market capitalization, is eager to pitch top advisors seeking stability. At the same time, it's ramping up a major branding campaign with Major League Soccer and Apple to woo next-generation clients.

The regional bank started making moves to protect deposits last year, which prevented steeper declines during a volatile first quarter, CEO Tim Spence says.