Relaxed loan terms from the SBA offer a ray of hope for small businesses

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by: Mark A., SBA Division Director
The stimulus package enhanced three loan programs that are part of the Small Business Administration (SBA)’s traditional offerings. The dominant narrative around U.S. small businesses throughout the pandemic has been one of doom and gloom. But there’s another side to the small-business story that is emerging. A story of determination,…

Cyber criminals are raising their game; small businesses must respond

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by: Valerie K. & Saadia M.
Another day, another damaging cybersecurity breach. That’s how it may seem lately as a long list of high-profile firms has fallen victim to a surge in malicious online activity. But for every breach that grabs the headlines, there are thousands of smaller businesses being hit by online fraud attempts that are growing…

Community banks must use personal connection to partner with small businesses

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by: Patrick S., Executive Vice President, Business and Consumer Banking
The rise of financial technology firms has been shaking up the world of banking and lending. Fintech firms last year made up 38%& of the personal loan market, up from 5%& in 2013, and are starting to focus more on small-business lending. And their impact is not just being felt locally. An Accenture report last…

Let’s Talk About Business Email Compromise

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by: Beka Wilson
Business Email Compromises (BEC) have been on the rise as a key attack vector for a while now. A BEC is when a fraudster is able to gain access to your professional email. This compromise can range from reading your communications to locking you out and using your email to…

The Four Big Mistakes Owners Make When Selling Their Small Business

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by: Mark A., SBA Division Director
With optimism among small-business owners at its highest level in 35 years, profits buoyed by corporate tax cuts and financing readily available at low interest rates, this is the best time in years to sell a well-run company. Millions of Baby Boomer business owners want to sell to fund their…