There are roughly 5.1 million companies that comprise the small to medium-sized business (SMB) category in the U.S. today – and that segment is growing at 4% annually. Many of these businesses, defined as having less than 1,000 employees, may need to seek external funding in the course of their operations. This carves out a lucrative opportunity for community and regional banks.

To uncover leading trends and statistics, the Federal Reserve’s 2019 Small Business Credit Survey gathered more than 6,600 responses from small and medium U.S.-based businesses with between 1 and 499 employees. These are the top seven small business lending statistics of 2019 – along with some key insights to inform your bank’s small business lending decisions in 2020.

1. Revenue, employee growth in 2018
The U.S. small business landscape remains strong: 57% of small businesses reported topline growth and more than a third added employees to their payrolls. Lending to these companies isn’t nearly as risky as it once was, and the right borrowers can offer an attractive opportunity to diversify your bank’s overall lending portfolio.

2. Steady rise in capital demand
Small businesses’ demand for capital has steadily risen: in 2017, 40% of surveyed businesses applied for some form of capital. In 2018, the number grew to 43%, with no drop-off in sight. Banks should not wait to tap into this lucrative trend.

3. Capital need
With limited and/or inconsistent cash flow, small businesses are almost bound to face financial hurdles. Indeed, 64% of small businesses said they needed capital in the last year. But when seeking capital, they typically find many banks turning their backs for reasons related less to credit-worthiness, and more to slimmer bank margins due to time-consuming due diligence.

As a result, over two-thirds of SMBs reported using personal funds – an outcome common to many small businesses owners. This is a systemic challenge, with a finding that points to an appealing “white space” opportunity for banks.

4. Capital received
Too many small businesses are settling for smaller loans: 53% of small businesses that sought capital received less funding than they wanted. Banks can close this funding gap for credit-worthy small businesses and consistently fill funding requests by decreasing the cost of small business lending.

5. Funding shortfalls
Funding shortfalls were particularly pronounced among specific small businesses, with particular credit needs. Businesses that reported financing shortfalls typically fell into the following categories:

u2022 Were unprofitable
u2022 Were newer
u2022 Were located in urban areas
u2022 Sought $100,000 to $250,000 in funding

Of course, not all small businesses deserve capital. But some shortfall trends – like newer businesses or those in urban areas – may suggest less of a qualification issue and more to systemic barriers.

6. Unmet needs
Optimistic revenue growth paired with a lack of adequate funding puts many viable small businesses at unnecessary risk. The survey found that 23% of businesses experienced funding shortfalls and another 29% are likely to have unmet funding needs. Capitalizing on these funding trends and increasing small business sustainability may well benefit both banks, businesses and communities in the long run.

7. Online lenders
Online lending activity is on the rise: 32% of applicants turned to online lenders in 2018, up from 24% in 2017 and 19% in 2016. The digital era has made convenience king – something especially true for small business owners who wear multiple hats and are naturally short on time. Online lending options can offer small business owners greater accessibility, efficiency and savings throughout the lending process, especially as digital lending solutions become increasingly sophisticated.

WRITTEN BY

Jorge Sun