Lending

The combination of election-year politics and the desire of lawmakers not to have to choose between credit unions and community bankers have helped erect a series of roadblocks to raising the cap on member business lending.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) has become the first member of her party to sign on as a co-sponsor of an amendment by Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) that would raise the cap of 12.25% of assets to up to 27.5% of assets.

A new report from the National Consumer Law Center suggests that the push to have more social security benefits deposited directly in recipients accounts has made those recipients vulnerable to payday lending.

Because of the risks to safety and soundness caused by some energy efficiency loans, credit unions should make "appropriate adjustments, to their underwriting criteria and collateral monitoring practices."

More profitable, more liquid and having better credit quality are a few of the traits of smaller businesses that do not use credit, a SBA Office of Advocacy study revealed.

Student lending program provider Fynanz, Inc. has revamped its cuStudentLoans.org website to feature a college financing blog, Ken's Korner.