Small business lending

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.

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen defended post-crisis reforms but allowed that further adjustments may be necessary to reduce adverse effects on small businesses and subprime borrowers.

Readers weigh in on a proposal to ease the leverage ratio, how post-crisis regulations have influenced lending, a CFPB overdraft fee study, and more.

JPMorgan CEO Dimon says banks are putting Silicon Valley to shame … in terms of diversity; Uber’s plan to replace its CEO with a woman seems to be sputtering; and Yellen’s potential successors also are all men.

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.

As banks press for deregulation, the debate over whether high bank capital standards are inhibiting loan growth has taken center stage.

Young businesses often prefer banks, especially community banks, over online lenders. However, traditional lenders need to make quicker decisions, simplify the application process and make other improvements, these customers say.

The online lender said it is on track to hit its goal of becoming profitable by yearend. It also extended a partnership agreement with JPMorgan Chase.

The online lending platform Kabbage announced Thursday it has raised $250 million from the Japanese telecom giant SoftBank, marking its largest equity fundraising round to date.