Banco Popular de Puerto Rico

The 2008 package proved some banks were too big to fail. But the rushed $2.2 billion stimulus shows now any company can be bailed out.

Lenders and government guarantors can use loan technology to bring immediate relief to business owners, former OCC official Jo Ann Barefoot says.

Lenders can offer deferred payments and capitalize on digital banking to help small businesses and consumers get back on their feet.

Requiring banks to test themselves is likely to be a waste of time in the current crisis, says a former Senate Banking counsel.

Yes, the Small Business Administration's emergency funding program for the coronavirus crisis is off to a rocky start, but that shouldn't stop banks from helping customers in need.

Few lenders are finding creative ways to provide much-needed financial advice and emergency services online.

The government should encourage community lenders to offer six-month loan repayment forbearances to struggling businesses before it’s too late.

Community advocates would like to see changes to the 1977 Community Reinvestment Act, but say regulators should suspend such efforts until the coronavirus pandemic has passed.

Critics who argue this crisis mirrors the 2008 financial panic when Congress bailed out banks have it wrong. The new relief package in response to the coronavirus pandemic was necessary to save livelihoods, and more can be done.

A combination of digital and cloud capabilities, data gathering and regulatory experience should give smaller banks an edge over nonbanks.