December 3, 2021 By Joseph ColemanContributing Editor U.S. Attorney’s in the banc-serv trial are requesting eight-years in prison, plus three years of supervised release, for Kerri Agee, during a sentencing hearing next Thursday (December 9, 2021). Agee was found guilty on August 4, 2021, on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a…

December 3, 2021 Delaney SextonContributing Editor Fraud Friday – Four Executives Plead Guilty to $4.5 Million SBA Fraud Three former executives of Valley Bank in Moline, Illinois, and the President of Vital Financial Services, a lender service provider, all pleaded guilty to scheming to defraud the SBA through programs that guarantee small business loans. They…

December 2, 2021 Delaney SextonContributing Editor Coleman Movers & Shakers – Blaine Lauhon, Deepak Bhakoo, and Erick Pereira Central Valley Community Bank’s Blaine Lauhon is Promoted to EVP, Chief Banking Officer “The success of Central Valley Community Bank is driven by our committed banking professionals and guided by our executive team to exceed the expectations…

November 30, 2021 Delaney SextonContributing Editor Hot Topic Tuesday – 80% of Consumers Plan to Shop at Small Businesses During Holiday Season “Shopping at a small business is on the busy holiday to-do list for a majority of U.S. consumers, according to recent American Express surveys. Doing so brings them joy and excitement, and they…

November 29, 2021 Delaney SextonContributing Editor Coleman’s 2022 SBA Lender Professional Award Nominations Nominations for Coleman’s 2022 SBA Lender Professional Awards are open for submissions. Nominating statements and/or testimonials should address why the nominee should be honored and how the nominee has made a positive impact on SBA lending and the small business community. The…

November 24, 2021 Delaney SextonContributing Editor C-Suite Wednesday – More Small Businesses Opening than Closing Says the SBA Office of Advocacy “Two crucial small business indicators, self-employment and proprietors’ income, had historic declines in 2020. Both experienced very fast recoveries by early 2021. These indicators match the National Bureau of Economic Research’s conclusion that the…

November 23, 2021 Delaney SextonContributing Editor Hot Topic Tuesday – Updated Guidance for Last Six Weeks of the EIDL Program “The COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance programs still have billions of dollars available to help small businesses hard hit by the pandemic. More than 3.8 million businesses employing more than 20…

November 22, 2021 Delaney SextonContributing Editor Main Street Monday – Average Main Street Business Expects No Sales Growth “Small business owners are attempting to take advantage of current economic growth but remain pessimistic about business conditions in the near future,” says NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg. “One of the biggest problems for small businesses is…

November 19, 2021 Delaney SextonContributing Editor Fraud Friday – Bank Branch Manager Uses Deceased Bank Customers’ Identities for Fraud “This defendant took advantage of his position at a bank to steal money from the bank accounts of deceased individuals,” says Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “This significant breach of trust is also a serious federal crime.…