Press Release - Pathway Lending

[Pages:3]Press Release

Tennessee District Office, 50 Vantage Way, Suite 201, Nashville, TN 37228 (615) 736-5881

Release Number: 0474-1219

Contact: David Tiller (615) 736-7176

SBA Honors Top Tennessee Lenders

Top Lenders in Twelve Categories Recognized Statewide

Nashville,TN--The U.S. Small Business Administration--the largest backer of loans to America's small businesses- honored its top SBA lenders on Wednesday, January 28, 2009 in a ceremony conducted during a luncheon event in Nashville. The luncheon was jointly sponsored by the SBA and the Tennessee Small Business Development Center network. SBA lenders in twelve categories received awards and took part in an information session hosted by SBA Tennessee District Director, Clint Smith and Patrick Geho, State Executive Director of the Tennessee Small Business Development Centers .

"We're very pleased to honor these lenders for their continuing contribution to the economic development of Tennessee and to their support of the small business community," noted Smith.

"During Fiscal Year 2008, nearly 900 Tennessee small businesses received SBA backed loans totaling over $178 million--so we owe a very special thanks to our SBA lenders, and to our resource partners such as the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) network, and SCORE--the Service Corps of Retired Executives who offer training and counseling to prospective SBA borrowers," said Smith. As a result of this performance the Tennessee District SBA Office recently received special recognition from SBA Headquarters.

The top ten lenders and their winning categories cover several different types of SBA loans including the Community Express Loan program, the Patriot Express Loan initiative, the Preferred Lenders Program, the Micro Loan Program, and the 504 Loan Program:

Lender of the Year ? top producer in the number of SBA loans: Superior Financial Group

Lender of the Year--top producer in dollars of SBA loan: CIT Small Business Lending Corporation

Community Bank of the Year ? top volume producer in number of SBA loans among community banks: Commercial Bank

Community Bank of the Year ? top producer in dollars of SBA loans among community banks: American Security Bank

SBA Express Loan Program ? Lender of the Year: U.S. Bank

SBA Preferred Lender Program ? Lender of the Year: CIT Small Business Lending Corporation

SBA Patriot Express and New Markets Lender of the Year: Superior Financial Group

SBA Rural Tennessee Bank of the Year: First State Bank

SBA Preferred Lender Program Community Bank Lender of the Year: Community South

SBA Certified Development Company of the Year: Mid Cumberland Development Corporation

SBA 504 First Mortgage Lender of the Year: First Federal Savings Bank

SBA Micro Lender of the Year: Southeast Community Capital

"All of our SBA lenders in the state of Tennessee deserve special recognition as well because of our outstanding loan performance in 2008--and it's also worth noting that we're always interested in working with Tennessee banks who may not have done SBA loans but who may see an opportunity to serve the small business community by offering SBA-guaranteed loans to Tennessee entrepreneurs," noted Smith.

The SBA was established in 1953 in order to help people get in business, stay in business and grow their business. More information on SBA loan programs and other services, including SBA's resource partners, SCORE and the TSBDC network can be found by visiting the following websites: , , and or by contacting the Tennessee District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration, 615-7365881, tn .

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download