Small business lending

The customer interface is just the tip of the iceberg in fintech, says Wells Fargo's Secil Watson. Plus, the tech trends in business banking, a power shift on sexual harassment as women support each other, and Michelle Obama's advice on raising boys.

Banks tout their small-business lending services, but J.D. Power survey results suggest something's amiss. The solution is easy and old-school — but it costs money.

Efforts to make it easier for smaller businesses to apply for SBA loans, coupled by concerted expansion efforts among key regional and community banks, contributed to the third consecutive record for 7(a) lending.

Small-business credit is poised for a shakeout. In the coming months, partnerships between banks and fintechs will increase, and credit models will be refined.

The identity theft threat created by the Equifax hack and the growth of online lending have given software makers a platform to pitch products that rely on selfies, scans of driver’s licenses and other nontraditional ID methods.