On Thursday, Biz2Credit announced its recent Small Business Lending Index report revealed that loan approval rates at big banks and institutional lenders improved to all-time highs in October 2016.
The report stated that small business loan approval rates at big banks improved to 23.5% during October, up one-tenth of a percent from September’s figure of 23.4%. It marked the seventh time in the last eight months that lending approval rates increased at big banks. Rohit Arora, CEO and co-founder of Biz2Credit, declared:
“Banks want to meet their targets for the year, which means the spigot of small business lending has opened up,” said . “If the Fed increases interest rates, as predicted, at its next policy meeting, I expect to see even stronger numbers. Banks will try to fund companies at higher, more profitable rates.”
It was also noted Institutional lenders’ loan approval rates also climbed to a new Index high of 63.1% during the month of October. This was the fourth consecutive month that institutional lenders improved approval percentages. Institutional lenders continue to increase their share of the small business lending market. Arora commented:
“Institutional lenders are taking advantage of their ability to process loans quickly at very affordable rates. They are faster and more efficient than other categories of lenders. Quite a few of them are foreign-based investors who are nervous about Brexit and hungry for high yields and low default rates.”
Meanwhile, lending approval rates at small banks continued to remain flat at 48.7%. Arora said:
“Small banks are seeking increase their number of closed deals by offering SBA loans. They are feeling the pressure of thee increased activity by big banks and institutional lenders, who are strong competitors. Smaller banks still are processing more SBA-backed loans than any other type of lender.”
Loan approval rates at alternative lenders also dipped yet again and were granted 59.5% of loan funding requests they received. Arora explained:
“Alternative lenders typically charge high rates as a tradeoff for the risk they are assuming in small business loan-making and the speed by which they make funding decisions. Unless a borrower is perceived high risk, he or she can likely secure better terms from other types of lenders. Borrowers want lower interest rates and longer terms than alternative lenders have been offering.”
In regards to loan approval rates at credit unions, Biz2Credit revealed that those dropped in October to yet another Index low of 41.2%. Arora added:
“Credit unions are struggling to maintain their relevance in small business lending,” says. “They’re becoming an afterthought for borrowers.”