Community Banks Increase Lending to Small Business

| March 14, 2016 

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2016/03/14561581102_472fb7425c_b_Handshake.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:4:"file";s:46:"2016/03/14561581102_472fb7425c_b_Handshake.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:7:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:46:"14561581102_472fb7425c_b_Handshake-336x224.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:224;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:46:"14561581102_472fb7425c_b_Handshake-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:44:"14561581102_472fb7425c_b_Handshake-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:46:"14561581102_472fb7425c_b_Handshake-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:46:"14561581102_472fb7425c_b_Handshake-467x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:467;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:46:"14561581102_472fb7425c_b_Handshake-398x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:398;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:46:"14561581102_472fb7425c_b_Handshake-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:117659;s:14:"optimized_size";i:47166;s:7:"percent";d:59.909999999999997;}s:5:"sizes";a:8:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:74:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/03/14561581102_472fb7425c_b_Handshake.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:40730;s:14:"optimized_size";i:9630;s:7:"percent";d:76.359999999999999;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:82:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/03/14561581102_472fb7425c_b_Handshake-140x140.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:4064;s:14:"optimized_size";i:2657;s:7:"percent";d:34.619999999999997;}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:82:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/03/14561581102_472fb7425c_b_Handshake-336x224.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:10053;s:14:"optimized_size";i:5579;s:7:"percent";d:44.5;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:82:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/03/14561581102_472fb7425c_b_Handshake-507x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:18661;s:14:"optimized_size";i:7413;s:7:"percent";d:60.280000000000001;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:82:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/03/14561581102_472fb7425c_b_Handshake-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:11119;s:14:"optimized_size";i:5796;s:7:"percent";d:47.869999999999997;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:82:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/03/14561581102_472fb7425c_b_Handshake-467x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:16475;s:14:"optimized_size";i:7125;s:7:"percent";d:56.75;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:82:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/03/14561581102_472fb7425c_b_Handshake-398x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:12957;s:14:"optimized_size";i:6604;s:7:"percent";d:49.030000000000001;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:82:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/03/14561581102_472fb7425c_b_Handshake-125x125.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:3600;s:14:"optimized_size";i:2362;s:7:"percent";d:34.390000000000001;}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1657996500 
1457931658

We know the broad outlines of starting a business. You have an idea, find an investor or lender for funding, then go at it. Around Birmingham community banks are increasingly getting in on that small business lending action. That’s where we start the conversation in this week’s Magic City Marketplace.

Photo by 드림포유

 

‘Sorry, Baby’ is a story about pain and healing you haven’t heard before

Eva Victor wrote, directed and stars in this tender film about a woman trying to make sense of life after sexual assault. Although very much a drama, Sorry, Baby showcases Victor's comic smarts.

Greetings from New Delhi, India, where performing monkeys spark delight — and ambivalence

Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR's international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world.

Israel strikes Syria’s capital Damascus

The Israel military said targets included a Syrian military compound in Damascus as well as a target near the Syrian presidential palace. Israel's defense minister said "painful strikes have begun."

The best games of 2025 so far, picked by NPR’s staff

From indies like Blue Prince to big console exclusives like Donkey Kong Bananza, NPR staff and contributors round up their favorite games of the year so far.

Israel strikes in Damascus as Syrian forces clash with Druze groups

The strike came as clashes continued in the southern Syrian city of Sweida after a ceasefire between government forces and Druze armed groups collapsed.

Even healthy brains decline with age. Here’s what you can do

Scientists are finding ways to minimize the effects of aging on the brain. Here are some ways to keep it healthy.

More Economy Coverage