Commercial lending

Firms owned by people of color have suffered more over the last two years than those owned by whites, according to a survey by the Federal Reserve Banks. Asian American-owned firms reported the biggest increase in financial challenges.

A dirty little secret in a $1.2 trillion world of credit is getting exposed as the Wall Street rout deepens: Private debt is now the cheaper financing option for big-ticket leveraged borrowers than the ailing public market — upending industry norms.

Allan Rayson, the chief innovation officer and chief technology officer of Encore Bank, gravitates toward nimble, up-and-coming fintechs that help Encore’s commercial clients open accounts and obtain loans digitally.

It took less than a day for Citigroup’s now-infamous payment error to Revlon lenders to come up in the cosmetics giant’s bankruptcy.

Most banks’ interest income will rise following the Fed policy shift. But the rate increase also boosts the likelihood of a recession that could hurt borrowers and drive up loan losses.

Citigroup and Bank of America have teamed up with five other banks to form Octaura Holdings, an electronic trading platform for syndicated loans and collateralized loan obligations.

Community development financial institutions proved themselves indispensable during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have earned a seat at the table.

The rules, which come almost four years after California lawmakers passed a landmark disclosure law, require lenders to inform borrowers about annual percentage rates. Some lenders have pushed back, arguing that APRs don’t make sense for certain types of financing.

The agency’s proposed data collection and reporting requirements would disproportionately burden community banks, which lead the nation in small-business lending.

The American Bankers Association’s credit conditions index fell sharply, as economists foresaw dampening loan demand. The weaker outlook lines up with major bank CEOs’ increased worries over a possible recession.