Small business lending

In a report, the watchdog said the economic environment and competition instead have driven trends in small-business lending.

Organizers of Dogwood State Bank are looking to raise $75 million in hopes of opening by mid-2019.

The USAmeriBank deal was supposed to give Valley National Bancorp a bigger presence in Florida, but it did more than that — it provided a model for banking businesswomen that Valley can copy in its New York and New Jersey markets.

The move is important for new banks in states like California, where a small-business lending program requires a three-star rating from the agency.

The online small-business lender was aided by loan growth, wider margins and stable credit trends. Its shares surged by 25% after second-quarter earnings were announced.

The announcement follows a news report that said it routinely and without notification charged higher rates than it initially quoted.

The company defended its prices for currency conversions after a report said employees boosted rates for some business customers without notifying them.

In addition to leading the company’s national business banking efforts, Peter Sefzik will also oversee small-business banking. Brian Foley, the chief credit officer for the Texas market, will succeed him as market president.

The Boston bank said the digital lending platform has cut down the time it takes to deliver loan decisions by roughly 40%.

Avidia Bank in Massachusetts collaborated with Exhibit 'A' Brewing to produce and sell an IPA as part of a plan to boost marketing to small businesses and millennials.