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lending
Case Studies
Prism Bank expanded into aircraft lending by partnering with PCBB and BLP, gaining a flexible, relationship-focused hedging team. This collaboration enabled Prism to confidently enter a new market and better serve its clients.
Community financial institutions can distinguish themselves by carving out niches — offering specialty loans to targeted audiences. We detail unique lending opportunities that CFIs have found successful.
Agricultural lending in 2026 will need to be more flexible, as producers face numerous headwinds. Deepening relationships with ag customers will be even more necessary. We delve into more specifics.
Per tradition, we're looking back on our top articles of the year to BID goodbye to 2025. In this January article, the FDIC’s 2024 Small Business Lending Survey reaffirms the importance of relationship-driven lending for CFIs.
Regional and national banks have pulled back from multifamily lending, and that’s created an opportunity for CFIs. We discuss how CFIs can thrive in this niche.
Rising office vacancies are fueling office-to-residential conversions nationwide. CFIs can finance projects, leverage incentives, and revitalize communities outside urban cores.
To increase adaptability to emerging technology, increased regulatory requirements, and changing customer needs, CFIs are increasingly moving from traditional lending systems to cloud-based lending solutions. We discuss some of the key benefits.
What draws small businesses to nonbanks for loans? We outline determining factors that are giving nonbanks the edge, plus tips to beat the competition.
Shadow banking represents nearly 50% of global financial assets. With a lack of clear regulatory oversight and transparency within the sector, industry experts fear its growth could pose significant threats to the banking industry.
CFIs plan to invest in automated lending, especially for SMBs. We discuss barriers to adoption for SMBs, the benefits to forging ahead, and the outlook for fully automated SMB lending.
In a recent webinar from the Kansas City Fed, economic experts discuss the impact of higher production costs, lower commodity prices, and potential new challenges with reciprocal tariffs on agriculture lending.
Digital lending platforms can help CFIs save money, make better lending decisions, and build a better loan portfolio. We discuss the benefits of adoption in a growing loan market.
Restaurants can have slim profit margins and short lifespans, but they’re often important parts of communities and CFI lending portfolios. We explain how CFIs can be smart lenders to restaurant owners.
The SBA’s recently launched Made in America Manufacturing Initiative aims to boost business and hiring among US small manufacturers. We detail how the initiative can help your small manufacturing customers access capital.
With private lenders expanding their role, CFIs have an opportunity to stand out by leveraging relationship-based lending, faster decision-making, and targeted expertise. We discuss four strategies to help.
Private lenders are filling the CRE financing gap thanks to looser underwriting, more reliability in rates, and growing investor confidence. We discuss nonbank lenders’ strengths and areas where they miss the mark.
With the Federal Reserve holding rates steady, SMBs continue to face high borrowing costs and tight lending standards that limit access to traditional financing. We discuss how CFIs can offer tailored solutions.
Monitoring an overall loan portfolio is an essential, ongoing part of any CFI’s lending program. Technology can help financial institutions track loan portfolio performance and pinpoint difficulties.
Struggling small businesses are increasingly turning to credit cards to help pay operating costs. CFIs can help by offering debt counseling and innovative small business lending products. We discuss strategies.
The FDIC’s 2024 Small Business Lending Survey reaffirms the importance of relationship-driven lending for CFIs.
Following tradition, we're taking a look back at your favorite articles from this year as we BID adieu to 2024. This August article explores trends in CRE. Risk within CRE lending portfolios may be higher than the banking industry realizes. We discuss rising sources of risk and how stress testing can help CFIs proactively identify trouble spots.
We interviewed PCBB President Mike Dohren about the key trends he anticipates affecting CFIs in 2025, including regulatory changes, mergers and acquisitions, lending trends, and technology.
Seasonal winter businesses have unique risks. We discuss CFIs’ opportunities to support them with personalized advice and tailored banking services.
The agricultural community is feeling the pinch of lower commodity costs and many farmers lack adequate capital to continue operating without borrowing. We discuss the trend and the impact on CFIs.
CFIs have a unique opportunity to diversify their portfolios and manage risk by participating in shared national credits, also known as syndicated loans. Learn about the key advantages CFIs can gain.
SMB lending fraud is on the rise. We discuss recent survey results on trends and provide steps CFIs can take to help keep this type of fraud in check.
While asset quality is strong, rising charge-offs in CRE and credit cards suggest it’s time for CFIs to revisit risk management strategies. We discuss the trend and responses to consider.
Driven by digitalization, the lending landscape is undergoing a profound transformation. We summarize the Digital Banking Report 2024 on the state of digital lending and explore strategies to bolster it.
A survey of senior credit risk executives revealed generative AI will impact 80% of credit risk assessments within two years. We discuss how generative AI can help CFIs manage credit risk.
Top CFI lenders actively help their small business customers and borrowers navigate headwinds. We explore successful lending strategies from several CFIs and highlight the importance of giving business customers advice.
As traditional lenders scale back lending to small- and medium-sized businesses, private credit is facing a boon of activity. We discuss why some large banks are investing in private credit.
Risk within CRE lending portfolios may be higher than the banking industry realizes. We discuss rising sources of risk and how stress testing can help CFIs proactively identify trouble spots.
Small businesses are struggling to access capital, despite strong demand. The SBA just launched the Working Capital Pilot Program, in the hopes of bridging the gap.
As concerns about the CRE market continue, many CFIs are reevaluating their CRE lending portfolios. Could lending to CRE clients in the life sciences market be a rewarding niche opportunity?
As we approach the second half of 2024, the agricultural industry remains under pressure from mixed economic and demand headwinds. Despite these challenges, farmers are expressing more interest in agricultural loans to grow their available funds. CFIs should prepare to meet this increasing demand.
The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act is doling out $27B for energy efficiency projects. Disadvantaged communities in your bank’s footprint could be in line for an infusion of capital. We discuss what the impact could be on you and your business customers.
In response to inflation, higher interest rates, regulatory capital increases and declining demand, some banks have pulled back on lending for equipment leasing and financing. That’s created opportunities in equipment finance and leasing for interested CFIs.
The commercial real estate sector experienced significant headwinds during 2023. Fortunately, early signs suggest a more stable, and in some cases positive, market in 2024. We review the outlook for the industry and suggest ways in which CFIs can manage risk and continue to support their CRE customers.
Why is now a beneficial time to consider a loan participation? Peter Dewes, PCBB’s Senior Vice President and Senior Lending Officer, shares his insights for community financial institutions to consider.
Financial institutions dealt with economic uncertainty, higher interest rates, more expensive funding, lower loan demand, and concerns about credit quality in 2023. Yet they continued to grow loans overall. There are some indicators that the lending market could begin growing again. We discuss what factors would contribute to this change.