Small business lending

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.

It’s highly debatable whether the artificial intelligence engines that online lenders typically use, and that banks are just starting to deploy, are capable of making credit decisions without inadvertent prejudices.

Given the scale of damage to the region’s homes and cars, bankers are guarding against an expected spike in missed payments by extending loan terms, deferring payments and making other concessions.

Karen Mills, former head of the Small Business Administration, says the glut of online lenders could help entrepreneurs obtain funds quickly.

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.