In a recent Wall Street Journal article entitled Inside the Disappointing Comeback, a statement was made that "Banks are less able or willing to lend" because of the current state of the nation's economy.  Community bankers in New York State would dispute this broad and generalized claim.

Community bankers are laser-focused on the communities that they serve, reinvesting in the small businesses and local, credit-worthy borrowers that support their institution.  Unlike the Big Banks, independent community banks are better capitalized, resulting in the ability to make more loans.  Perhaps the view from Wall Street is different from that on Main Street, because here, we see a lot of lending-proving these claims to be untrue.

"Community banks in NYS are in better shape than their larger brethren due to their common sense approach to lending, an approach that has not wavered over the years.  Community banks have always lent according to the best interests of the bank and the customer."

- John Buhrmaster, IBANYS Vice Chairman

Be assured that IBANYS will continue to support you-the Champions of Main Street.  To do this, we also need your help.  Please email Crista Leigh Collins with facts and figures about your institution's lending.  We will respond to the WSJ article by writing a response to these claims and will send a copy to our members when it is complete. 

Thank you for your continued support.

Best regards,

Frank J. Capaldo

President/CEO