SBA

The Small Business Administration said lenders approved $71 billion in loans from the Paycheck Protection Program in less than five days.

The online lender, which is looking to become a direct lender in the Paycheck Protection Program, has accepted 37,000 applications while working with an unnamed bank to fund businesses harmed by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Small Business Administration’s loan processing platform went down Monday for as long as four hours, temporarily halting the ability of lenders to process loans for small business owners seeking relief from the impact of the coronavirus.

Soaring demand for loans from firms hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic has led to predictions that the program could soon run out of funds.

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

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

Lenders must balance the financial risk of extending credit without explicit backing from the Small Business Administration against the reputational risk of delaying aid for needy borrowers.

The central bank is creating a facility to provide financing to banks participating in the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program.

Congress and financial regulators have implemented a number of measures to help the industry survive the financial impact of the pandemic, and a fourth phase of stimulus could be coming.

Wells Fargo said it can't fully meet demand from small businesses rushing to participate in a U.S. relief program because of constraints imposed by the Federal Reserve on the bank's growth.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said that $349 billion will likely not be enough meet loan demand from small businesses seeking a lifeline to help them weather the economic downturn brought on by the coronavirus outbreak.

While the federal government is touting the early success of the Paycheck Protection Program, community banks are complaining about headaches and glitches.

Banks, under pressure to act hastily, began taking applications for government aid to small businesses hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak. But narrow eligibility rules at some banks angered business owners and lawmakers.

Emergency loan program plagued by chaos on eve of launch; why Moven, one of the first challenger banks, is calling it quits; Fed faces conundrum on whether to remove Wells Fargo's asset cap; and more from this week's most-read stories.

The decision sparked outrage from small-business owners who have checking accounts with the bank but not loans or business credit cards. Bank of America started taking applications Friday for a $349 billion program that's intended to offer aid to small businesses suffering from the shocks of the coronavirus pandemic.

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.

Many bankers find crucial parts of the SBA effort to help businesses hurt by the coronavirus outbreak to be unclear and onerous. If those issues go unresolved, participation could suffer.

The pandemic may force the Small Business Administration to rely more on fintechs and digital channels to hasten loan approvals, a shift that could stick.

Online lenders can help the agency distribute loans faster as it gets set to deploy emergency funding to small businesses.

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