Most banks do not break out small business lending data in any greater detail in their quarterly financials, but Bank of America and Chase both provided some interesting (and contrasting) small business lending-related metrics when they published their first quarter 2011 results last week:
- Chase grew business banking originations 57% y/y, to $1.4 billion. In addition, end-of-period business banking loans rose for the second consecutive quarter, to $17.0 billion. In presenting the quarterly financials, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon claims that the bank is starting to see real small business loan demand
- Bank of America’s small business loan charge-off rate fell for the sixth consecutive quarter, declining 45 bps from 4Q10 to 8.68% (this is the lowest rate since 1Q08). However, its small business loan portfolio continued to decline, falling 2.8% in the quarter to $14.3 billion at the end of 1Q11 (although the rate of decline is falling)
So while Bank of America remains focused on getting credit quality under control, Chase has forged ahead and is growing its small business franchise. As other national and regional banks publish their quarterly financials over the next week, it will be interesting if any other bank has started to grow its small business loan portfolio.
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