Banking & Financial Services

U.S. Treasury data shows PPP loans have saved millions of jobs

After billions in U.S. money was distributed to businesses in every state, a question being asked is was all that funding effective?  According to recent data released by the U.S. Treasury Department, the answer is yes. Data collected by the… more

Transitions 2020: Documentation—The Paper Chase

For business owners planning to sell their companies in the near term, a storm may be brewing. In broad terms, say professional-services executives, buyers will be looking for historical and current documenta-tion in categories that can be broken down into… more

In a Nutshell by Ken Herman

Did you feel a leftist scalpel cutting away more of your heart muscle?  Christians as well as all religious Americans just lost more of our constitutional freedoms and liberties to the extreme left’s political surgeons and agenda. If you missed… more

Q&A with: Stephen Penn

Q: We've seen the downturn's impact on hospitality (hotels, airlines, car rentals, restaurants, retail, etc.), but from what you've seen, which other sectors have sustained long-term damage? A: We would expect those industries with a combination of lower demand offerings,… more

U.S. economy shrinks at record annual rate in second quarter

Knowing it was coming did little to prevent raised eyebrows down today, as the Commerce Department released its preliminary report showing real gross domestic product decreased at a record annual rate of 32.9 percent in the second quarter of 2020. That… more

New relief program for Missouri local governments

The Missouri Development Finance Board has announced the new Small Communities Operating Capital Loan Relief Program for Missouri incorporated municipalities under 25,000 in population, according to a Wednesday news release from the Missouri Department of Economic Development The program will… more

$1 million of pandemic relief funds to be used on startups in Missouri

On Wednesday Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced that the state will use $1 million of its allotted COVID-19 relief funds on a new grant program for startups in Missouri. The grant program will financially assist co-working and incubator facilities with… more

Federal Reserve Board upholds current schedule of prices for most payment services

The Federal Reserve Board announced Tuesday its intent to maintain the current schedule of prices for most payment services that the Federal Reserve Banks provide to depository institutions (priced services) in 2021, according to a Tuesday news release from the… more

In a Nutshell by Ken Herman

Optimism among investors historically grows after the 4th of July holiday.  The last two weeks of July are typically positive for stock markets, normally driven by positive earnings announcements. The Street has already observed that the analyst community was too… more

PPP: Did It Hit the Mark?

The second quarter of 2020 is in the books, and it will go down as a historic three months for American business, American banking—and eventually, the American taxpayer. The latter will be on the hook for trillions in money borrowed… more