SBA and CRE Opportunity to win more SBA, owner-occupied CRE, franchise, and equipment financing for small to mid market businesses. With a history of large SBA lending and a loan size window from fifty thousand to five million, First Merchants Small Business Lending can tailor terms quickly and support growth, acquisitions, and refinancing in Indiana and nearby markets.

Boutique Reach Leverage the boutique, relationship-driven service combined with national lending capability to differentiate from larger banks. Target owner-operators, franchisees, and real estate developers who want personal underwriting, local knowledge, and scalable funding.

Partnership Engine Capitalize on existing partnerships and integration activity to build a referral network and co-marketing programs. Propose joint campaigns with channel partners to feed the pipeline for SBA loans, CRE, and equipment financing, leveraging CRM tools to track prospects.

Digital Enablement A digital and data-forward approach offers room to optimize loan origination, pre-screening, and onboarding with modern tooling. Suggest offering fast pre-qualifications and streamlined digital experiences while using analytics to improve cross-sell opportunities into equipment financing, debt refinancing, and franchise financing.

Growth Momentum Position as a growth-ready lender within a regional bank with credible market position. Target expansion opportunities in the Midwest and through partner networks to grow the SMB lending book, tapping into demand for CRE and SBA lending tied to growth, acquisitions, and refinancing.