Androscoggin Bank launched a new online lending platform for small businesses in January to better compete with the market's options for online small business loans; the firm's Fast Response Business Loans Platform was built in partnership with an undisclosed fintech firm and has processed half a dozen loan applications since its launch; its lending criteria is based on credit score, number of years in business and being based in Maine; its interest rates start at 6% and it currently offers credit lines of up to $10,000 and term loans of up to $100,000. Source
Banks have previously been known for their slow service in providing small business loans however the success of small business online lenders is helping to increase their interest and banking models; with banks expected to begin broadening personal and business lending in the current environment, small businesses appear to provide the best market opportunity; American Banker details some specific areas where banks can upgrade their technology for better competitive positioning in the small business lending market including: online applications, electronic documentation, increased online disclosure and optimized lending processes based on targeted borrowers. Source
Citigroup has a new small business loan offering offered through a branded partnership with Biz2Credit; the partnership follows new small business offerings from JPMorgan and Wells Fargo; Rohit Arora from Biz2Credit said the partnership has not been widely publicized because it is in very early stages; small business lenders use a website interface managed by Biz2Credit that submits their information to a Citigroup banker for follow up; Arora also said the new small business loan offering is part of the bank's Community Reinvestment Act obligations. Source
Institutional investors and small banks increased their small business lending in March, according to the Biz2Credit Small Business Lending Index report; institutional lending approvals increased to 63.6% and small bank approvals increased to 48.9%; the approval rate at big banks was unchanged at 24.1%; the approval rate at credit unions decreased to 40.7%; the approval rate at alternative lenders decreased to 58.2%. Source
Online franchise business lender ApplePie Capital has announced the acquisition of Funding Solutions, LLC and the appointment of Ronald Feldman as chief development officer; Funding Solutions is a six-person franchise loan consulting firm based in Michigan and will help business and product development for the firm; supporting ApplePie Capital's brand portfolio and product strategy, Ronald Feldman will also bring significant franchise market experience from roles at FranData, Franchise America Finance and The Siegel Financial Group. Source
The Association of Alternative Business Finance (AABF) has added three new alternative lenders to its membership; new members include Invoice Cycle, Merchant Money and Reward Finance Group; launched in February 2017 the AABF seeks to support UK alternative lending for small businesses. Source
After several years of tightening credit requirements for business loans over the last couple of years more banks have been...
Biz2Credit has released its monthly Biz2Credit Small Business Lending Index report which provides approval rates on small business loans; large lenders increased approval rates while alternative and credit union lenders reported decreases; big banks reported an approval rate of 23.9% in December, an increase of 0.02% from November and 1% from December 2015; the small bank approval rate increased to 48.9% and the institutional lenders approval rate increased to 63.4%; alternative lending approval rates decreased to 58.6% and the approval rate from credit unions decreased to 40.9%. Source
The Biz2Credit Small Business Lending Index shows another increase in small business approval rates at traditional banks in January with big banks approving a new high of 24% of small business loans; Biz2Credit CEO Rohit Arora attributes the increase to optimism over the Trump administration's regulatory initiatives for financial services; loan approval rates at small banks were basically unchanged at 48.9%; the loan approval rate for institutional lenders remained at 63.4%; loan approval rates at credit unions decreased to 40.8%; loan approval rates decreased for alternative lenders, with the average approval rate at 58.5%. Source