SBA

The agency has earmarked all funds from a Hurricane Harvey recovery package for direct relief, despite calls to get more bankers involved in the process. It remains to be seen how the agency will handle the cleanup for Hurricane Irma.

The long-term recovery for thousands of Texans whose homes were decimated by Hurricane Harvey rests with a Trump administration government outsider who wants his agency's budget cut by billions of dollars.

The agency has a relatively new program designed to quickly get funds into disaster-stricken areas. The problem is that many bankers don't know it exists.

The designation allows the $1 billion credit union to process SBA loans within 36 hours and to approve them without sending them to the agency first.

The largest banks are approving small-business loan applications at the fastest rate since the recession, a sign that that they are willing to assume more risk and taking seriously the threat of competition from online lenders.

First Home Bank raised nearly 20% more than it sought from investors, providing proof that Florida — especially the Tampa Bay area — is a hotbed of activity.

Green Bancorp has pivoted from the troubled energy-lending market to SBA loans, which are appealing to more small banks because they can be sold at a premium and are getting more support from Washington.

Natasha Merz, VP of commercial lending at Langley FCU, testified before a House small business subcommittee on ways Congress can help credit unions and the SBA better fulfill a common mission.

First Savings Financial in Indiana and Dime Community in New York are keen on making more SBA loans as a way to diversify revenue and generate fees through loan sales.

The good news: SBA lending is going gangbusters and business owners are optimistic about growth prospects and their ability to access credit. The not-so-good news: Many firms are still not particularly interested in borrowing and startups are not the engines of job creation they once were.