RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Since it launched its Small Business Services product line more than a month ago, demand has rolled in at Riverside County's Credit Union, with business loan applications reaching the $1.5 million mark. Launched in mid-July, the Smart Business Services product line includes three checking accounts; a savings account; a money market account; business credit cards; and a line of lending products for small business. "We know there's a market for our services in the business community, and the response to our new small business product line proves it," said Suzie Kisslan, RCCU senior vice president of lending. "The smaller businesses have told us that they are often overlooked by the big, commercial financial institutions, and that they don't get the level of service they need, in particular waiting weeks for loan approvals." RCCU is working with Business Partners, a CUSO based in Chatsworth, Calif., and affiliated with Telesis Community Credit Union. RCCU originates the loan and the CUSO underwrites it, approves it, draws up the documents and services the loan, Kisslan said, adding the alliance "(eliminates) the need for us to make that capital expenditure." "About 30 percent of the business owners are existing RCCU members who were waiting for us to expand into this line," Kisslan said, which has included physicians, an insurance firm, and commercial and retail businesses in both Riverside and Orange counties. RCCU serves more than 97,000 members and has $600 million in assets. "Our rates are competitive and our turnaround for approvals is very fast, only about three days. And, we can draw up loan documents in five business days," Kisslan said. To assist members, RCCU works with Pam Compton, a Business Partners employee, who brings 20 financial services industry experience, most of it in commercial lending and small business in the Inland Empire here. [email protected]