Commercial lending

Fed receives bipartisan critique for stalled Main Street lending

05/21/20

The Federal Reserve received a bipartisan critique Wednesday from members of a congressional oversight panel who said the central bank has been slow to launch a key emergency lending program for mid-sized companies.

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Coronavirus outbreaks at meat plants compound ag banks' problems

05/19/20

Lenders are scrambling to pause ranchers’ loan payments as meat processing plant shutdowns during the pandemic threaten $25 billion in losses for the livestock industry.

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Margin pressure could dog banks into 2022

05/18/20

With rates so low — after steep emergency Federal Reserve cuts in response to the pandemic’s fallout — banks will struggle to generate bread-and-butter interest income and asset-sensitive lenders will face substantial net interest margin contraction this year and next, analysts say.

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Bankers expect recession to last into 2021

05/18/20

Bracing for a prolonged economic slowdown, many community bankers say they are considering a number of belt-tightening measures, including freezing salaries and delaying investments in technology and product development, according to a survey by Promontory Interfinancial Group.

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Big banks' best defense in a pandemic: A diversified strategy

05/14/20

A properly deployed combination of asset-based lending, commercial loans and investment banking is imperative in these circumstances.

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Community banks call on Congress to rein in credit union regulator

05/13/20

The Independent Community Bankers of America would not rule out legal action if Congress doesn't address the National Credit Union Administration's recent decision expanding the low-income designation.

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The case for industrywide use of SOFR

05/11/20

The group that worked with the Fed to devise an alternative rate to Libor rejects criticism that the index favors megabanks.

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Bankers fear massive borrower fraud in PPP

05/07/20

Up to 12% of loans under the $660 billion small-business rescue program could be tied to misleading or completely phony applications, fueling concerns about lenders' potential liability.

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Bankers forced to play guessing game as loan deferrals mount

05/07/20

Lenders that scrambled to grant forbearance as the coronavirus pandemic took hold are unsure about the extent of potential losses.

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Banks tighten lending standards as coronavirus crimps demand: Survey

05/04/20

Lenders implemented stricter underwriting across all loan types in the first quarter as the pandemic upended the economy, the Federal Reserve said in its survey of loan officers.

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