Commercial lending

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.

The digital bank will also help San Francisco-based Lendeavor’s expansion efforts.

The Wall Street giant on Wednesday played up its customer service skills, saying that representatives of its Marcus personal-loan unit answer calls within 10 seconds.

The company said it could use the proceeds to fund acquisitions and to make more loans.

Quaint Oak in Pennsylvania is making a big push in real estate brokerage, a business that many state-chartered banks might think is illegal for them to pursue.

Snap Finance provides credit at the point of sale, primarily to consumers with bad credit.

On Jun. 30, 2017. Dollars in thousands.

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

Manuel Mehos, CEO of Green Bancorp in Houston, looks back at his company’s decision to exit energy lending last year. “The oil business is not what it used to be,” he says.