The Paycheck Protection Program has masked what has been a year of tepid demand and tightened lending standards. And bankers aren't expecting a rebound anytime soon.

A public-private partnership that has fewer rules and restrictions than the Paycheck Protection Program would save more small businesses.

The head of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston said the central bank had acquired stakes in 32 business loans as of Monday, four times the amount from two weeks earlier.

The coronavirus pandemic has created major credit issues at the Boston bank and stymied efforts to improve profits, fueling speculation that the onetime serial acquirer could be a takeover target.

Richard Marotta left the Boston company less than two weeks after a goodwill impairment charge contributed to a large quarterly loss.

MatlinPatterson, which once owned more than 60% of the Michigan company, has been paring back its stake in recent years.

The Small Business Administration began accepting applications Monday, but lenders such as JPMorgan Chase are holding off in hopes that Congress will grant blanket forgiveness for smaller Paycheck Protection Program loans.

Somerset Trust in rural Pennsylvania has partnered with RoamHR, a financial platform that assists the self-employed, to add tax-withholding help for contract and temporary workers to the bank's services.

The company said it has concerns about a large amount of accounts receivable it bought in July.

Year to date through Mar. 31, 2020. Dollars in thousands.

Cypress Trust Co. has requested deposit insurance from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Spinning off its digital bank will allow Pennsylvania-based Customers to beef up its commercial lending and buy other banks. BankMobile, meanwhile, plans to pursue more white-label relationships and perhaps explore its own acquisitions.

The digital bank would be sold to Megalith Financial, allowing Customers to focus on commercial lending and letting BankMobile expand more aggressively.

The coronavirus pandemic has forced some branches to close, but demand for in-person advice remains strong.

Many sellers are ditching the loans to avoid the cumbersome forgiveness process. For others, the Paycheck Protection Program was never a strategic fit.

The company will pay an undisclosed amount of cash for Marshall Financial, the parent of Citizens Bank.

Delmar Bancorp will lose its regionally associated brand when it becomes Partners Bank.

Besides reauthorizing the Paycheck Protection Program, Congress should upgrade the loan forgiveness process, offer businesses the chance to take out a second loan and ensure the pricing satisfies lenders, bankers say.

Community bank earnings are usually easy to understand, but loan deferrals and modifications as well as the complexities of the Paycheck Protection Program are skewing financial statements.

First Bank of Central Ohio would be based near Columbus, where another group opened a bank last year.