NEW YORK–Small business loan approval rates for big banks (25.5%) set another new high last month, according to the latest Biz2Credit Small Business Lending Index, which is based on March 2018 figures) released today.
Approvals by credit unions on small business loans were essentially flat, with one analyst saying CUs must invest more in fintech to grow share.
The monthly analysis examined more than 1,000 credit applications from small businesses on Biz2Credit.com, according to the company.
Biz2Credit.com reported big banks (assets of $10 billion+) are granting more than one-quarter of the small business loan applications they receive. The 25.5% approval percentage, up one-tenth of a percent from February 2018, represents a post-recession high point for big banks.
“With the Federal Reserve’s continuing path of interest rates increases, small business loans are becoming more and more profitable. A small rate hike means tens of millions of dollars in profit, since the big banks’ cost of capital has not changed,” said Biz2Credit CEO Rohit Arora in a statement. “Big banks have a larger deposit base, and they can be more aggressive in lending, especially in a strong economy.”
Meanwhile, small business loan approval rates climbed slightly at regional and community banks, according to the same data. Small banks approved 49.0% of the funding requests they received in March, down two-tenths from February, Biz2Credit.com reported.
“Small banks typically process a lot of SBA loans, which put weight on the previous year’s tax returns. Many businesses that have to submit returns by March 15 file for extensions, and their accountants are operating on overdrive until April 15,” Arora explained. “This happens every year, especially for small banks that make SBA loans. I expect their approvals to pick up again in May, after tax season ends.”
“Big banks are extending lines of credit, and they look at accounts receivable. SBA loans are tax return-driven. This is why the big bank approvals increased, while small bank approval percentages dropped in March,” Arora added.
Other findings in the Biz2Credit.com data:
- Institutional lenders reached a new Index record 64.5%, up one-tenth from February. These lenders (pension funds, insurance companies, and others), continue to be important players in small business lending.
- Loan approval rates among alternative lenders dipped slightly to 56.5% from February’s 56.6%. Approval percentages have slipped every month for almost two years, with the exception of a small uptick in November 2017.
- Credit unions approved 40.1% of loan applications in March, a one-tenth of a percent drop from February and a new record low for the Biz2Credit Small Business Lending Index.
“Credit unions traditionally have been a good source of loans for small businesses, but some of their market share have been overtaken by other non-bank lenders,” Arora said. “Unless they invest more into financial technology (fintech), this category will remain stagnant.”
The Biz2Credit data is based on analysis of loan requests ranging from $25,000 to $3 million from companies in business more than two years with an average credit score above 680.