Northern Bank recently achieved the “U.S. Small Business Administration Preferred Lender” designation, giving the bank the ability to provide small business loans to more companies and, in many cases, faster than ever before. “The SBA’s Preferred Lending Program enhances Northern Bank’s ability to meet the commercial credit requirements in every community we serve,” says Donald Queenin, Executive Vice President of Northern Bank. “It further strengthens Northern’s commitment to provide credit to businesses to support and grow local economies.”

Small businesses are at the heart of local communities and drive local economies. As a community bank, Northern Bank has always been proud to offer small business loans backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA helps to ensure that small businesses can compete and succeed by offering low interest rates to individuals with credit who want to start, purchase or grow a small business. These entrepreneurs are at the heart of communities across Middlesex county and America.

“The SBA’s Preferred Lending Program status is the highest level of accreditation an SBA lender can receive,” says Robert Nelson, SBA Massachusetts District Director. “Northern Bank earned the preferred lender status by demonstrating their commitment to small business and ability to effectively serve this market with the use of SBA’s programs. Preferred lending status gives Northern Bank the ability to act as an agent of the SBA – which speeds up the loan approval process for everyone involved.”

Since 1960, Northern has been the banking partner of choice for businesses and consumers throughout New England. The Bank takes an entrepreneurial, commonsense approach to providing a complete line of banking and investment solutions. With a deep investment in the community and passionate commitment to helping customers grow, the designation of a Preferred Lender for the Small Business Administration is a major accomplishment for Northern Bank.