Article: Small businesses look for lending alternatives

Two years after the subprime crisis began to unravel the financial industry, traditional means of credit remain tight for small businesses.

Bank lending to small companies dropped by $14.8 billion, or 1.9 percent, in the second quarter year over year, according to the Federal Reserve. Small Business Administration lending during the agency's fiscal year 2009, which ended Sept. 30, was down 36 percent compared to 2008.

Big banks, still rattled by bad loans and the secondary market's collapse, have retreated the most. Of the 10 largest SBA lenders in 2008, only one, Wells Fargo, increased lending in 2009. The others cut lending to small companies by 30 percent or more, according to the SBA.

...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!