More Texas CUs in Spotlight for Business Lending Strides

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Several Texas credit unions were recently profiled for their member business lending strides. Security Service FCU and Randolph-Brooks FCU’s MBL programs were parts of a bigger story in the July 22 San Antonio Business Journal on competing with community banks. The $3.8 billion SSFCU has 17 business loans contributing to its $10 million total business loan portfolio. A SBA lender since 2003, the CU says it’s the largest of that kind in the state. “We may be the biggest, but it’s a small grain of sand in the great desert,” John Worthington, SSFCU senior vice president told the publication. The $2.3 billion RBFCU was also mentioned for its $45 million business lending program. “Our goal is not to make $10 million loans,” said Robert Zurfoss, senior vice president of mortgage lending. “We’re making the small-business arena a focus for our membership.” The CU industry’s argument is that banks shy away from loans smaller than $100,000 and prefer large loans of $250,000 and up, the publication said, adding some local banks, like many others, are crying foul. At least two area banks, Lonestar Capital Bank and Jefferson State Bank, said half of their business loans fall between $50,000 and $150,000.