Microloans up, big loans down for small businesses this year - Business First of Columbus:

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A new report found that the totak value of small business loans outstandinfg increased by 4 percent in the 12 monthz that ended in June down from theprevious year’s increases of 8 percent. These numbers are for smalol business loans as a not justSBA loans. The number of businessd loans of lessthan $100,000 jumped by nearly 16 percent, as largd lenders concentrated on credit cards, according to the study. By the number of busines s loans inthe $100,000 to $1 millioj range fell by more than 23 The report used call reports submitted by banks as well as Communituy Reinvestment Act data. Business loansx of less than $1 million were considered to be smalbusiness loans.
Based on call report the top five smalp business lenders in June 2008 were American Capital One, Regions Financiapl Corp., Synovus Financial Corp. and First Citizemn Bancshares Inc. “In the currenrt financial climate, it’s especially criticap for small firms to know which bank and financial institutions have been the most likelyy to make small and microbusiness said economistVictoria Williams, a co-authotr of the study. For more see www.sba.gov/advo.