SBA Administrator Karen Mills having a seat on Pres. Barack Obama's critical economic advisory team is a good sign, CUNA Deputy General Counsel Mary Dunn said.

Dunn met with Mills and Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), chairman of the Senate Small Business Committee, during a roundtable last week. Getting more credit unions to be aware of and participate in the SBA's loan programs continues to be a priority. Some have complained the process is cumbersome, while others have raved about the agency's to back loans they would otherwise not be able to do.

"There is an SBA express program but that doesn't work for everyone," Dunn said. "The SBA has had some reduction in staff throughout the regions. Problems arise when there are not enough people to process questions."

Dunn said Mills is very proactive and wants the agency to run more efficiently. CUNA has recommended that some of the temporary changes like the 90% guarantee be made permanent.

"The past administration was 'cut, cut, cut,'" Dunn said regarding some of the SBA's programs. "President Obama, to his credit, has made Mills part of his economic advisory team. She is at the table having the discussions about problems in the economy."