To our valued clients and friends,

 Since the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act passed last summer, there has been a lot of discussion in the industry about what financial reform will mean for community banks in the long run. While no one has a crystal ball to predict exactly what the community banking landscape will look like years down the road, a bit of clarity is starting to form in some areas. See our lead article in this issue for an in-depth discussion.

For most community banks, the past few years have been all about survival. However, the economic winds appear to be shifting, which may be a harbinger of profitable new lending opportunities in the current post-recession marketplace. Our second article includes some tips for creating a new offensive game plan that will help you identify these opportunities and get your bank back on a growth track.

The new SBA 504 Debt Refinance program could be a lifesaver for thousands of small business borrowers that could face foreclosure if unable to refinance or restructure existing commercial mortgage debt. See article below for more details.

We hope that you find this issue of Financial Lending Notes to be helpful and beneficial to your company. If you would like more information on any of the topics mentioned here, we would be glad to discuss them with you in more detail.  

Sincerely,

Tom Beisner, CPA, Partner