Small business

An unprecedented, industrywide survey of sexual harassment in the professional workplace reveals industries with the highest prevalence of unwanted sexual behavior, the differences between large and small companies, and blind spots that may be preventing corrections. Fortunately, the data also lights a path forward.

The founders of Seed are hoping to bring to small-business banking what their previous company, Simple, brought to personal financial management: much-easier-to-use technology.

Seacoast Commerce is San Diego is already one of the biggest Small Business Administration lenders — half the loans on its books are tied to SBA programs. But will its underwriting hold up outside its traditional markets?

Attorney General Jeff Sessions did not keep the rest of Washington apprised of his plan to rescind an Obama-era memo on pot. Now Fincen and other federal banking agencies are dealing with the backlash from that decision.

Endeavor Bank, which raised nearly $27 million, will become the second new bank to open in California in the past year when it debuts next week.

New models are emerging, including joint initiatives between established banks and new alternative lending players, as well as those incorporating blockchain and cryptocurrencies, writes Eugene Green from WishFinance.

Commercial customers, including small businesses, seem ready to pay up to shift to faster, more sophisticated electronic invoicing and payments, and enterprising banks that provide them the technology to do so could find it lucrative.

SMBs are choosing virtual cards as their preferred form of electronic payments because they solve many of their payment challenges, while also helping them avoid the costs associated with custom software solutions designed for larger businesses, writes Blair Jeffery, COO of Noventis.

The Small Business Credit Availability Act aims to double the debt-to-equity ratio for business development companies. Increased leverage could spur more lending to small and midsize borrowers.

Along with crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending, cryptocurrency can improve access to payments, credit and other financial services for SMEs, writes Eugene Green, CEO and founder of WishFinance.

The pilot could help the agency improve its image after past criticism of slow responses to catastrophes.

A decision to slash the equity required for most change-in-ownership loans could help the small-business lending program top its recent record.

The online small-business lender, which has been cutting expenses, said it is on track to achieve profitability in the fourth quarter.

Top banking executives called the Republican tax plan an important first step toward tax reform and economic stimulus, but questions immediately arose about whether trade-offs and complexities in the bill would undercut it.

More people are making a case for regulators to step in, saying banks’ lack of leadership diversity is a risk that they have failed to resolve on their own. There is one very surprising thing about the recent wave of sexual harassment allegations. What kind of program will help women advance? The answer might be one that is for the men.

TD Bank has pledged $3 million to provide credit counseling to small-business owners. The hope is that those owners will use commercial loans to replace personal credit cards and home equity as their primary forms of business funding.

It’s not just consumers who are worried about identity theft. For the millions of business owners who rely on their personal credit to finance operations, damage to credit scores could have dire consequences.

Live Oak Bancshares is used to finding ways to make small-business loans, but its new M&A operation was formed after two bankers pitched the plan to Live Oak's management.

Providers leave out a majority of lower-volume companies that would happily accept an electronic payment or card, writes Sue Ellen Hodnot, vice president of sales for the west region at Nvoicepay.

Wells Fargo, PNC and others are finding that the web seminar is an effective way to promote themselves through advice and useful content aimed at consumers and business clients.