President’s Message – March 2021
As has been mentioned in previous messages, my favorite part of being in banking is helping others start and operate a business. As a small business owner myself, I understand the day-to-day responsibilities and rewards involved, and applaud anyone willing to take on that challenge. Small business is the engine that drives the American economy, particularly in rural communities, and helping to keep that engine running is what Community Bank is all about.
As such, we have been particularly proud to have helped businesses during the current pandemic, specifically as it pertains to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) offered through the Small Business Administration. During the first round of PPP loans, Community Bank closed loans totaling over $2.8 Million. And during the second round, we have almost $1.5 Million in loans that have closed or are waiting approval. While the total dollar amounts are relatively small compared to other larger financial institutions, I’m most proud of the number of loans we have provided so far – 196! This is 196 hard-working small business men and women in our communities we have been able to help weather these historically unstable times. And when I say small businesses, I mean it – the average loan amount so far is less than $22,000, with the second round average of less than $14,000.
If you are a small business owner, I encourage you to contact a Community Bank loan officer to see what we can do to help your business thrive during these uncertain times. Whether it’s a government loan program, restructuring your current loans, or just someone to bounce an idea off of, they are here to help.
