Federal prosecutors continue their aggressive pursuit of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) fraud, with two recent high-profile convictions demonstrating that the Department of Justice remains committed to holding fraudsters accountable nearly five years after the pandemic began.

Key Findings: The overall confidence index has plummeted from 7.8 in November 2024 to 6.02 in June 2025 Only 16% of employers believe the national economy is growing, a sharp decline from last year. SMB concerns are centered on inflation (55%), economic stability (55%), and recession fears (49%).

The Loan Agent Oversight Act mandates the SBA's Office of Credit Risk Management to submit an annual report to Congress. This report must detail: The number of agents assisting loan applicants. The number of fraudulent loans linked to agent involvement. Referral fees paid by lenders to agents. This initiative stems from findings that, in 2023 alone, the SBA's 7(a) program issued 47,700 loans totaling $25.7 billion, with $335 million identified as fraudulent due to loan ag

The crux of the law? North Dakota now has the authority to define these alternative finance products as “loans,” putting them under the same regulatory umbrella as traditional lenders. This includes licensing requirements and interest rate caps, up to 36% annually. What’s more, the state’s financial regulator, the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), has been granted the discretion to classify these products through administrative orders.

It’s said that things are bigger in Texas, but for Sales-Based Financing, that may no longer be a possibility. Thanks to a Texas billionaire, financing options for businesses are set to be reduced if Texas Governor Greg Abbott signs HB 700 into law before Saturday, June 22nd, although hope remains for something to change. 

VOX Funding, a leading provider of flexible financing options for U.S. businesses, today announced closing a $150 million credit facility with Raven Capital, a New York-based investment firm specializing in asset-based direct lending. To date, VOX has funded over $750 million through its platform.

FundMerica accepts as true that neither Forth nor Centrex had any involvement in the data incident at issue. Any prior statements made by FundMerica to the contrary are retracted and withdrawn. --- Last night there was an amendment brought by Senator Charles Perry (R) that could make it all but impossible to make Sales-Based Financing (see revenue-based financing and mca) in the state of Texas.

Stephanie Hockridge, once a familiar face as a Phoenix news anchor, now stands at the center of one of the most significant fraud cases to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside her husband, Nathan (Nick) Reis, Hockridge is set to stand trial for alleged wire fraud and conspiracy related to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a federal initiative designed to help small businesses survive the economic fallout of the pandemic.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed a complaint in the Nevada District Court against two men for what amounts to a Ponzi scheme very similar to the MJ Capital case we covered last year in Miami Federal Court.

Washington State is making waves with a new program: the Revenue Based Financing Fund, launched through their Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). It’s the first fund of its kind I’ve come across—have you seen anything like it elsewhere?

“You should know that credit ratings understate credit risks because they only rate the risk of the government not paying its debt,” Dalio said in a post on social media platform X.

In an industry where speed, accuracy, trust, and decision confidence drive every dollar moved, Dragin’s new AI functionality equips funders with a clear picture of a merchant’s online credibility and activity, automatically pulled before a human ever touches the file.

Banks argue that prohibiting charging fees for data access prevents them from recouping these expenses and managing related risks. Conversely, fintech firms advocate for the rule, emphasizing the benefits of seamless data sharing for developing innovative financial products and services.

We spoke with Curtis Sutherland, Head of Sales and Business Development at TAB Bank and a seasoned expert in ABL financing, to better understand what clients need to be ready for an asset-based loan.

Thus, the Court will stay the Section 1071 Rule and toll the Rule’s compliance deadlines with respect to Plaintiff and its members for the length of time that the Fifth Circuit stay order in Tex. Bankers Ass’n, No. 24-40705, is in effect, subject to modification at any time by the Court.

From the latest in communications strategy to the intersection of finance, technology, and public affairs, this video is packed with insights for anyone interested in how high-stakes messaging is crafted and delivered today. Watch now to stay ahead of the curve!

They signal a clear thesis: Intuit is doubling down on owning more of the financial lifecycle, especially for small to midsize businesses (SMBs), where it already holds a strong foothold with QuickBooks

Other traditional banks and payments providers are also testing or considering a deeper involvement with stablecoins, from Standard Chartered to PayPal (PYPL) to Stripe. Money management giant Fidelity Investments has also begun testing its own stablecoin, according to the Financial Times.

If you want to understand how fintech company Ocrolus came about, its impact on business lending and other markets, and where it's going, this video is for you. I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Sam Bobley, CEO of Ocrolus, the fintech company he co-founded at about the same time I entered the alternative business funding space.

Despite its growth, the RBF space remains fragmented and lacks the institutional infrastructure found in traditional lending markets. Funders often operate on a deal-by-deal basis, raising and recycling capital manually. Syndication is typically handled through informal channels such as emails or calls, leading to inefficiencies and missed opportunities.

Since June 2020, the defendants enriched themselves by defrauding small business owners interested in obtaining financing for their businesses. Through misrepresentations and falsehoods, the defendants promised their victims that in exchange for money provided upfront, the defendants would ultimately extend a loan or line of credit to the victims. In reality, once a victim provided the upfront payment to the defendants, the defendants did not extend financing to the victim.

Seeing a few companies claim they fund Sales Based Financing transactions in Virginia led me to look into them to see if that's accurate.

The SBA is taking steps to strengthen the integrity of its loan programs with the implementation of new anti-fraud measures. These changes are being introduced with the stated support of the Department of Government Efficiency.

This decision ensures that Roglieri will remain in custody at the Rensselaer County jail until his trial this summer, underscoring the...