Fearing a Drop In SBA Lending.

The article reports that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) fears a fall in lending activity in New Jersey in 2008. According to James Kocsi, SBA district director for New Jersey, merged banks might cut back their SBA lending. Kocsi worries that the pending acquisition of Commerce Bank, the top SBA lender for eight years in terms of dollars, by TD Banknorth, could result in a decreased loan activity. Kocsi says a drop-off in the SBA lending by Commerce Bank would be a bad thing for the small-business community in New Jersey.