Business lending is where it's at, says Matz

SIOUX FALLS, S.D.-NCUA Board Member Deborah Matz urged credit unions to get in the business of business lending in her most recent trip to South Dakota. The market has great potential for credit unions and remains widely untapped, she said. Speaking at a South Dakota Credit Union League luncheon, Matz emphasized that credit unions should get involved in member business lending if feasible. She explained that credit union business members typically need relatively small amounts of credit for items like farming equipment or cleaning equipment necessary to start a home cleaning service. “These are loans that banks won’t make,” Matz added, “not because they are too risky, but because they are too small.” She cautioned attendees not to underestimate the need for business loans. Business lending is “not just for `big city’ credit unions or for another part of the country,” Matz said. “Dakota West Credit Union in Watford City, North Dakota, is in the top 10 credit unions in the country in terms of member business loans per member, making 15 business loans for every 100 members,” she pointed out to the credit union executives. “The demand is there. Why let your members go elsewhere or go without?” she challenged the South Dakota credit unions.