The government should encourage community lenders to offer six-month loan repayment forbearances to struggling businesses before it’s too late.

For many small providers, the coronavirus pandemic means falling revenue and rising expenses, as many either shut their doors to new business or staff up to deal with COVID-19 patients. Bankers say that means helping them bridge the cash-flow gaps until they can get back to business as usual.

The central bank is creating a facility to provide financing to banks participating in the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program.

After Congress temporarily lowered the leverage ratio used by smaller institutions, the federal agencies said they would allow a one-year transition before banks have to comply again with the regular standard.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said that $349 billion will likely not be enough meet loan demand from small businesses seeking a lifeline to help them weather the economic downturn brought on by the coronavirus outbreak.

While the federal government is touting the early success of the Paycheck Protection Program, community banks are complaining about headaches and glitches.

The $5.9 billion-asset Liberty Bank in Middletown had set aside $5 million to make small-dollar loans to customers affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

The proposed Agility Bank would rely heavily on digital offerings. It is pursing a national charter with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Lenders can offer deferred payments and capitalize on digital banking to help small businesses and consumers get back on their feet.

The pandemic may force the Small Business Administration to rely more on fintechs and digital channels to hasten loan approvals, a shift that could stick.

In supporting the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, lenders have a chance to restore public trust damaged in the last financial crisis. But they face tough decisions on dividend cuts, executive pay, furloughs and deeper changes to their business model in the process.

The Treasury Department and Small Business Administration are responsible for distributing $350 billion in coming months.

While some big banks have pledged to avoid layoffs this year, hiring freezes and delayed projects are becoming the norm during the pandemic.

The regulation established standards for investors who own less than a quarter of an institution. Banks are getting more time for implementation as they focus on effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The newly minted Transact Bank will provide payment processing and card issuing services to a wide range of clients.

Motivated by the entrepreneur and TV celebrity, Citizens Bank of Edmond is offering an overdraft line to give customers quick access to cash they will eventually receive from the federal government.

Commercial real estate lenders have to consider not only how they’ll weather the COVID-19 downturn, but whether worker and consumer habits have changed for good.

The acquirer had pursued a de novo strategy in its home state but was unable to raise enough capital.

Lawmakers and regulators opted to delay compliance for banks that have implemented the credit loss standard, sparing them near-term capital hits.

Regulators are allowing banks that implemented the loan-loss standard to forestall any capital hits until 2022.