Small business lending

The online lending platform Kabbage announced Thursday it has raised $250 million from the Japanese telecom giant SoftBank, marking its largest equity fundraising round to date.

Efforts to repeal a Dodd-Frank mandate for lenders to report data on small-business applicants — including race and ethnicity — overlook the benefits of the provision to both communities of color and banks.

CircleUp is offering lines of credit to early-stage consumer brands, which can often only get financing at high interest rates.

Small-business customers of Bank of America can now apply for credit through the bank’s digital channels.

First Home Bank raised nearly 20% more than it sought from investors, providing proof that Florida — especially the Tampa Bay area — is a hotbed of activity.

The Pittsburgh bank is developing new products, simplifying old ones and modernizing its workplace based on detailed feedback from consumers, small businesses and employees in an attempt to create a bank they all like better.

The subprime business lender halted new business and laid off scores of employees after recording higher-than-expected losses.

Green Bancorp has pivoted from the troubled energy-lending market to SBA loans, which are appealing to more small banks because they can be sold at a premium and are getting more support from Washington.

The addition of Sean Glithero as CFO is one of several new hires by the online small-business lender.

The online small-business lender has also announced the hiring of a new U.S. head of capital markets.

A headquarters move to Boston, a core system with plenty of headroom and a CEO who admires big acquirers like M&T and the old Banknorth: All the signs are there of an ambitious bank with a plan.

Tim Welsh will succeed Kent Stone, who is retiring. In his new role, Welsh will oversee the bank’s overall consumer and small-business strategy, as well as digital activities.

The New York firm, which offers high-cost credit to small businesses, has attributed its recent struggles to certain loans performing worse than had been expected.

JPMorgan Chase’s partnership with OnDeck Capital was expected to augur a wave of similar agreements between banks and online business lenders. But so far, most banks have avoided joining forces with companies they also view as competitors.

The Utah company has similar arrangements with Staples, GoDaddy and LegalZoom.

Customers were previously required to provide access to their accounting software, but now they can connect a business bank account instead.

Bill would replace much of Dodd-Frank but is unlikely to become law; online retailer is expected to expand Amazon Lending program to small businesses in the U.S., U.K. and Japan.

Bay Area CU launches Business Banking Division to increase, diversify loan portfolio.

A Nebraska banking veteran put up $1 million of her own money to create a microlending program that doesn't require business owners to provide traditional collateral.

From digital lending solutions for U.S. community banks to Sharia-compliant finance in Africa