Retail & Commercial

Small Business Administration lending is an arena where community banks and nonbanks compete favorably with some of the largest U.S. financial institutions. Here are the biggest SBA 7(a) lenders based on the value of approved loans.

A recent effort by Citigroup to nudge certain customers toward digital-only statements was well intended but too punitive, observers say. The key, they argue, for banks seeking to cut costs or achieve other goals is to offer incentives to those with ingrained habits.

Small business clients are important to financial institutions and expected to drive growth. But to achieve that, banks must teach them to be stronger consumers.

The bank is adding fintech-style buy now/pay later lending to other recent payment upgrades at its merchant acquiring unit.

But high costs and any downturn in the economy could weigh on lenders and their commercial borrowers in coming months, economists caution.

City National Bank has tapped Howard Hammond, a 17-year veteran of Fifth Third Bancorp, as CEO of the Los Angeles-based bank, replacing Kelly Coffey, who will move to a newly-created role as CEO of the bank's entertainment unit.

In addition to expense-reduction measures, the Wisconsin-based regional bank is selling almost $2 billion of mortgages and securities and will invest in its lending and deposit-gathering capabilities.

Banks across the spectrum of size and location serve small businesses — but they all do it differently. At American Banker's Small Biz Banking 2023 conference in Nashville from November 13-15, banks of all sizes will come together to share ideas, learn from experts and hear from bankers in the field who are doing it best. 

The Cincinnati-based bank, which purchased a solar lender last year, is facing an investigation from 17 state attorneys general over the acquired company's lending practices and contractor network. One solar panel installer has gone bankrupt and faced complaints across the country.

Los Angeles-based Lendistry — in less than two years — became the largest Black-run 7(a) lender. Its CEO credits a concerted effort by the Small Business Administration to reach out to minority lenders and businesses, whose participation in the lending program is growing.