Displaying items tagged: Horizon Bank

Commercial lenders head toward the end of 2022 in an uncertain economic environment with rising interest rates and predictions for a mild U.S. recession in the second half of next year.

The new year could bring a continued acceleration of M&A in the banking industry.

Businesses that received a federal Paycheck Protection Program loan and are growing or intend to seek financing for an expansion should apply for loan forgiveness as soon as possible, according to bankers.

GRAND RAPIDS — The West Michigan venture capital fund that intends to invest in growing, minority-owned businesses has garnered attention from interested parties who want to replicate the model elsewhere in the U.S.

GRAND RAPIDS — The venture capital fund formed a year ago in Grand Rapids to invest in minority-owned businesses has netted $8.5 million in commitments from investors and aims to hit $10 million this year.

Bankers across the region have been focused on working with small business clients to secure loans from the federal Paycheck Protection Program, as well providing payment deferrals and adjusting loans for business borrowers hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Commercial bankers say clients’ demand for credit remains strong, although borrowers in West Michigan are carefully watching what’s ahead for the economy.

Here is the MiBiz Growth Report for Aug. 20, 2018.

GRAND RAPIDS — United Bank will become the latest entry into the downtown banking market with the planned opening of a new office later this year.

GRAND RAPIDS — Horizon Bank’s move into the West Michigan market provided an opportunity to launch a private banking service based in Grand Rapids that will eventually extend across the corporation.

Higher interest rates during 2017 haven’t acted as a damper on commercial lending in West Michigan, although some lenders are seeing borrowers moving to fixed-rate business loans.

Among the commercial and industrial borrowers at Lake Michigan Credit Union, about one-third are expanding or buying new equipment that’s needed to grow their businesses.

GRAND RAPIDS — Three years after opening a local lending office, Horizon Bank plans to begin developing a branch network in the Grand Rapids market.