Due to what we expect is the result of an unprecedented number of community bankers working from home and reduced foot traffic in-branch, Community Banker University experienced an exponential surge in course enrollments for the month of March.

The Small Business Administration just announced that to ensure access for the smallest lenders and their small-business customers, its systems will only accept Paycheck Protection Program loans from lenders with less than $1 billion in assets between 4 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. (Eastern time) today, Wednesday, April 29

Community banks have always demonstrated courage and commitment in helping customers thrive in good times and in adversity. As bankers well know, with every crisis comes opportunity — and harnessing opportunities requires preparation.

In determining what this new business-as-usual will look like for your bank, it is important to identify where your customers are now and how their financial needs may change so that you can anticipate and deliver on their future needs.

Following this morning's relaunch of the Paycheck Protection Program, ICBA is hearing the many problems community bankers are having accessing Small Business Administration systems to process their PPP applications.

ICBA has confirmed that any Paycheck Protection Program applications received by lenders prior to today can be processed based on guidance in effect prior to today, April 25, 2020.

When times get tough, the tough get going. As cliched as that may be, nothing could be truer as we look to community banks’ response to the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program.

The Treasury Department and Small Business Administration have released additional resources for Paycheck Protection Program lenders.