In Brief: Small-Biz Credit Platform from Merrill

May 09, 2002, 1:00 a.m. EDT 1 Min Read

NEW YORK Merrill Lynch & Co. has introduced a Web-based technology platform that allows small-business owners to apply for credit online.

The company said the new platform, FinanceCenter, simplifies and speeds the application process for commercial lines of credit from $100,000 to $500,000, which the company offers through its Merrill Lynch Business Financial Services.

The new platform also lets these clients submit applications for Small Business Administration loans, which are offered through a referral program with a nonaffiliated lender.

We are committed to helping our small- and midsize business clients simplify their finances through integrated cash management, financing, investing, and online business banking services, said David W. Tralka, the director of Merrill Lynch Business Financial Services. The introduction of the FinanceCenter platform saves our clients time and allows them to apply for credit easily.

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