How Your Business Benefits from Local Lending
Business owners are familiar with the importance of community support. So why isn’t every owner lining up to get their commercial lending from their local bank? Obtaining loans from your local financial institution can create greater opportunities for your business and the economy.
Local Banks Offer the Same Lending Products
While your local bank may be small compared to national chains, the list of products they offer is not! In fact, community banks offer most, if not all, of the same products and services as larger institutions.
Greater Vested Interest in Community Growth
Businesses, especially small businesses, are familiar with the importance of buying local. The employees at your community bank are your neighbors and patrons of your business and are interested in seeing your business succeed. Additionally, many banks give back directly to your community. Pioneer’s Charitable Foundation alone has surpassed $1.6 million in donations to Capital Region organizations.
Customized Solutions
With many large banks investing in technology, local banks are firm in their commitment to personalized support. That means when we’re making decisions about your loans, we’re looking at you as an individual with unique commercial needs. We won’t sell you on a plan that’s made to fit everybody; we’ll work to customize a solution that fits your business’s goals.
The Numbers Support Local Banks
The bottom line is important to business owners, so let’s get down to brass tacks. In 2021, small banks approved about 20.1% of small business loans, while large institutions approved just 13% (source: Biz2Credit). According to the FDIC “Community banks hold 39.3% of the industry’s small loans to farmers and businesses, making them the lifeline to entrepreneurs and small enterprises of all types.” In 2024, businesses dealing with loans from small banks and credit unions were most satisfied while online-lender applicants were least satisfied (source: Small Business Credit Survey).
If you’re expanding your business and looking to fund it through a loan, talk to a Pioneer representative about how we can enable your growth.