Small business lending

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.

Efforts to repeal a Dodd-Frank mandate for lenders to report data on small-business applicants — including race and ethnicity — overlook the benefits of the provision to both communities of color and banks.

CircleUp is offering lines of credit to early-stage consumer brands, which can often only get financing at high interest rates.

Small-business customers of Bank of America can now apply for credit through the bank’s digital channels.

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.

The Pittsburgh bank is developing new products, simplifying old ones and modernizing its workplace based on detailed feedback from consumers, small businesses and employees in an attempt to create a bank they all like better.

The subprime business lender halted new business and laid off scores of employees after recording higher-than-expected losses.