by Admin | May 14, 2026 | Becoming Bankable, Business Strategy, Economic Insight
The April Bank of America Institute Small Business Checkpoint frames a contradiction worth a closer look. Profitability growth held positive through the first quarter, but small business payroll growth has been negative for three consecutive months, and overall...
by Admin | Apr 30, 2026 | Becoming Bankable, SMB Leadership, Strategy Planning
For nearly four years, lenders across the country have reported a net decline in the credit quality of small business loan applicants. Fifteen consecutive quarters of declining applicant credit quality, running from the second quarter of 2022 through the fourth...
by Admin | Apr 23, 2026 | Becoming Bankable, SMB Leadership, Strategy Planning
Most small business loan denials are not decisions made at the end of the process. By the time a lender delivers their answer, your financials have already told them what they need to know. Understanding what they are looking for is the first step toward changing the...
by Admin | Apr 2, 2026 | Becoming Bankable, Strategy Planning
When small businesses apply for financing, many expect the outcome to be simple: approved or denied. In reality, the result often lands somewhere in between. Recently published Federal Reserve data shows that just about half of small businesses receive the full amount...
by Admin | Mar 26, 2026 | Becoming Bankable, Business Strategy, SMB Leadership
Last week, we discussed how credit shapes small business lender readiness. So, what actually happens when a loan request moves from conversation to credit review? Recently published Federal Reserve data gives us a clearer picture. In the 2026 Report on Employer Firms,...
