WEST JORDAN, Utah – With nearly $16 billion of small business loans at stake, Member Business Lending LLC is doing its part to help credit unions see the revenue potential through the launch of new, monthly training sessions. Formed in May 2004 by the $1.4 billion Mountain America Credit Union, MBL LLC is currently working with more than 25 CUs to implement their business lending programs. The CUSO recently attended an industry conference in Hawaii and having established several early contacts there is inviting them and others to participate in training programs that will kick off on February 22, according to Jamie Hester MBL business training developer and event coordinator. The first training program runs Feb. 22-25 and will feature classes on MBL department development; NCUA MBL rules and regulations; SBA rules and regulations; and marketing business loans. Kent Moon, president of MBL LLC, considered an SBA and business lending expert by many in the industry, will be the instructor. Guest speakers from the credit union and SBA will also make presentations, Hester said. Another training session is scheduled for March with programs running each month throughout the year, she added. "There is a high demand for credit unions to be trained for member business lending," Hester said. "The banks have been running their (operations) for awhile with SBA (lending). Now that the SBA has opened up to credit unions, we want to train them to get into the billion dollar industry and get a piece of the pie." More than $16 billion was used by the SBA in 2003 to fund America's small businesses and $5 trillion or 52% of the gross domestic product is generated by them. While small businesses make up 98% of all business in the nation, 26 million of them do not have adequate access to capital. The registration deadline is Feb. 14. The cost is $235 per class per person if a credit union is a member of MBL LLC and $250 for non-members. If all four classes are taken, a $100 discount will be deducted from the registration fee. For more details, contact Jaime Hester at (801) 325-6405 or [email protected]. -

[email protected]