Best Microloans Podcasts (2025)

Ever wanted to take another shot at bank sim? Have you ever heard about bank sim and wondered what it was? Regardless of whether you have no clue what we're talking about, were victorious in a graduate school of banking sim in the past, or (like me) tasted the sour taste of bitter defeat...you've never done sim like this.And that's the point. Now, …

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Small Business Lending: Untapped Potential. Joe Ehrhardt with Teslar 28:19

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4M ago28:19

28:19

Teslar Software has been a really cool company to watch. We were first introduced to them way back during one of the first ICBA ThinkTECH's and it's been a joy to see them grow and get to know them. Also, I've always believed that the merging of small business and consumer business banking is a path to profitable banking in most communities. These …

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Stable Coins: Justin Muscolino With High Risk Education 21:06

5M ago21:06

21:06

Stable coins have gotten a lot of news lately...but what are they? Are they here to stay? Is this something community banks are going to have to deal with...whether we like it or not? I don't know, but it is always best to arm ourselves with information because, as my good friend Justin says, "we fear the unknown until we know the fear". I think it…

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Main Street Banking Economic Update (August 1, 2025) 14:43

5M ago14:43

14:43

With all the news this week, time to bring on Jim Reber, CEO of ICBA Securities. Be sure you sign up for Stifel's Quarterly Strategy Webinar for Banks at https://stifel.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Rk2fDcs1Q2iNsWFfT7iF6A#/registrationBy Barret School of Banking

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SBA, Fintech, and the Future of Small Business Loans in 2025 52:23

5M ago52:23

52:23

Looking for clear answers on small business loans, working capital, and the future of business funding in the U.S.? This podcast dives deep into the real landscape of small business financing, from SBA programs like the 7(a) Working Capital Pilot to the rise of fintech and non-bank lenders. We break down: What’s changing in SBA loan requirements an…

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The New Rules of Lending: Cash Flow, AI & Why Credit Scores No Longer Rule 43:00

5M ago43:00

43:00

Is the credit score really dead? In this episode, we take a deep dive into the groundbreaking shifts transforming how business funding works in 2025. Discover how lenders are moving away from outdated FICO-based approvals and embracing smarter, faster, and more inclusive methods like: Cash flow underwriting that analyzes real-time income and expens…

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Med-Spa Part 3 36:05

5M ago36:05

36:05

Thinking of launching or scaling your med spa? In this episode, we break down the real costs and smart strategies behind building a profitable, modern aesthetics practice. You’ll learn: What it really costs to open and run a med spa in 2025 How to budget for equipment, staff, real estate, and marketing Financing options like SBA loans, equipment le…

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Med Spa Capital: How to Fund Growth Without Draining Cash Flow 30:48

5M ago30:48

30:48

Running a med spa is high-reward but also high-overhead. From $50K+ lasers to bulk injectable orders and seasonal slowdowns, cash flow can become your biggest obstacle, even when demand is booming. In this episode, we break down: Why traditional banks fail to fund med spas The real cost of equipment and product inventory How this financial Catch-22…

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Unlocking Microloans: How Small Capital Creates Big Opportunity for Underserved Entrepreneurs 41:08

5M ago41:08

41:08

Discover how microloans—particularly SBA-backed microloans—are transforming the way small businesses and underserved entrepreneurs access capital. This episode breaks down everything you need to know about SBA microloans, including loan amounts, eligibility, interest rates, and how nonprofit intermediaries like Accion and LiftFund deliver them to r…

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Unlocking the Secrets of Business Credit & Why Most Loans Get Denied 21:50

5M ago21:50

21:50

Ever wondered why your business keeps hitting a wall when applying for funding? This episode breaks it down without the fluff. We dive deep into soft pull business credit cards—what they are, how they protect your personal credit, and why they’re a smart move for entrepreneurs looking to grow without getting burned by hard credit checks. But that’s…

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Business Funding 101: From Bootstrapping to Big Capital 40:25

5M ago40:25

40:25

What’s the best way to fund your business—without losing your shirt or your sanity? In this kickoff episode of our series, we break down every major funding path: traditional loans, SBA-backed programs, crowdfunding, angel investing, venture capital, and even self-funding (aka bootstrapping). With real stats and insights pulled from top sources, yo…

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Treasury Services: What It Is...and Isn't 27:03

5M ago27:03

27:03

I have to be honest here...one of the things that I didn't fully understand in my time in production was treasury services. I understood what they were...but it was never really part of the strategic process. The more I'm around banking, I see the same thing with other banks and I don't think it's because it's a bad idea but rather it's because we …

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The Leverage Effect: Using Strategic Debt to Supercharge Business Growth 18:35

5M ago18:35

18:35

Financial leverage is a strategic tool that can amplify business growth when used correctly, not just debt as a burden. Smart, strategic borrowing becomes a superpower for your business by amplifying returns, speeding up growth, and allowing you to maintain full ownership while gaining tax advantages. • Understanding the debt-to-equity ratio (ideal…

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NAICS Codes: Impact on Business Funding and Credit 16:28

5M ago16:28

16:28

A comprehensive overview of NAICS codes, explaining their purpose as a standardized classification system for North American businesses, primarily used for statistical data collection. They detail the hierarchical six-digit structure of these codes and highlight their critical impact on a business's ability to secure funding, obtain insurance, qual…

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Business Credit Card Stacking: Strategy and Scams 21:32

5M ago21:32

21:32

A comprehensive look into business credit cards and the strategy of credit card stacking for business funding. One source explains that individuals can obtain business credit cards without a formally registered business if they have self-employed income, often using their Social Security number. It highlights the benefits of business credit cards, …

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Expanding your business but need capital 27:35

5M ago27:35

27:35

A comprehensive guidance on starting and funding a business, ranging from initial planning to expansion. They cover various business entity types and essential compliance needs like tax IDs and legal agreements. A significant portion focuses on capital raising strategies, detailing options from self-funding and crowdfunding to angel investors, vent…

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A New Idea From First International Bank and Trust 23:59

6M ago23:59

23:59

Peter Stenehjem is the Pres/CEO of First International Bank and Trust in North Dakota. He's a returning guest, friend of Barret, and a fascinating banker to talk to. FIBT has been family owned for over 110 years now by Peter's family and has branched out into doing some really cool stuff in the world of fintech and payments.They've owned Kotapay (h…

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Generational Crossroads: Career Paths in Banking and Being Curious 36:28

6M ago36:28

36:28

C.J. Tate and I connected a while back and just had some really interesting conversations around career advancement in community banking and the role of education. He made some great points about how it's a two-way street and the role of culture AND the role of the greener banker's attitude towards learning more. He's dead on right....His story is …

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Scale Link: CDFI's and Small Business Microloans 23:18

7M ago23:18

23:18

Scale Link is a really cool CDFI that offers a secondary market for small business microloans and trading platform. Their CEO, Jonathan Brereton, stopped by the show to have a chat...and y'all know what a fan we are of CDFI's on Main St. Banking. Love meeting other true believers out there!!!Be sure to check out Scale Link at https://scalelink.org/…

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The CEO/CFO Relationship Part 2 22:18

8M ago22:18

22:18

Wrapping up our discussion with Eric and Brett this week. If you missed last week's, be sure you go back and check that out. Otherwise, you just landed right in the middle of a conversation and it probably doesn't make much sense!Thanks to ICBA Securities for their continued sponsorship.By Barret School of Banking

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Business Live: Trade, Cyber-Attack, and FTSE 100 Trends 17:04

8M ago17:04

17:04

Stay plugged into the pulse of global markets with Business Live: Trade, Cyber-Attack, and FTSE 100 Trends. In this episode, we break down the latest disruptions in international trade, analyze the fallout from major cyber-attacks targeting key industries, and track the performance of the FTSE 100 in a volatile economic landscape. With expert insig…

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Small Business Funding Trend 2025 18:19

8M ago18:19

18:19

Get ahead of the curve with "Small Business Funding Trend 2025." In this podcast, we dive deep into the latest shifts shaping the small business financing landscape — from emerging loan options and alternative funding sources to changes in lender requirements and economic influences. Whether you're a startup founder, growing business owner, or fund…

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The CEO/CFO Relationship Part 1 22:07

8M ago22:07

22:07

One of the most important (and yet least discussed) relationships in the bank is the CEO/CFO relationship. When it works...it REALLY works but when it doesn't....it REALLY doesn't. It represents banking, in so many ways, in that these two positions have vastly different perspectives yet must work together. However, I think you'll find in this episo…

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Main St Banking Economic Update April 4 2025 9:02

9M ago9:02

9:02

With all the news and shake-ups we've seen over the last few days...I wanted to bring on Jim Reber to help banks understand what's going on.By Barret School of Banking

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Growing As A Leader: Eric Alexander 38:12

9M ago38:12

38:12

Growing as a leader in a bank can be hard. Where do you even start? What does that even look like in practical terms? Eric Alexander with Six Arrows Consulting is a frequent guest of the show because these are questions we like to discuss! Be sure to check him out at https://sixarrowsconsulting.com/ as well as on LinkedInAnd many thanks to ICBA Sec…

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Main Street Banking Economic Update: March 21, 2025 10:14

9M ago10:14

10:14

Many thanks to Jim Reber, CEO of ICBA Securities, for continuing to sponsor the show as well as come on each quarter to shed light on economic news. I know it's a big help to all of us here and to many of you as well.Be sure to register for the webinar he mentions at the end on Enterprise Risk Management. Jeff Rigsby is a great speaker and it'll be…

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Reframing the Value of AI: Tim Dively from CliftonLarsonAllen 36:55

10M ago36:55

36:55

I was glad to bring back Tim Dively to discuss data and AI. Tim does a great job of cutting through buzzwords and help banks understand these very weighty topics. In this episode, we discussed more organizational change management than you'd expect on an AI podcast episode but I think you'll see the importance of understanding where to start with A…

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Business Loans with Bad Credit Guide 27:33

10M ago27:33

27:33

Bankrate is a financial comparison service providing articles, calculators, and resources. It offers information related to banking, mortgages, investing, credit cards, loans, home equity, and insurance. The site is supported by advertising and strives to provide objective information to help users make informed financial decisions. The article "Ho…

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The Deep Dive Business Funding_ Essential Loan Contracts 13:09

11M ago13:09

13:09

Securing funding for your business is one thing—understanding the loan contracts you sign is another. In this episode of The Deep Dive Business Funding, we break down the essential elements of loan agreements, from interest rates and repayment terms to hidden clauses and negotiation tactics. Whether you're a startup founder, small business owner, o…

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Alternative Funding Insights: Expert Q&A with Lendex Solutions Group 18:36

11M ago18:36

18:36

Are traditional bank loans not the right fit for your business? Discover the world of alternative funding in this expert Q&A session with Lendex Solutions Group. We dive deep into non-traditional lending solutions, helping small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs secure the capital they need. From merchant cash advances and invoice factoring t…

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CRA Solutions: Navigating CRA's Murky Waters 29:04

11M ago29:04

29:04

The CRA has always been of interest to me. There's a lot of good that's come from it but recent changes have made the implementation of the law rather murky. Today, we sat down with David Lenoir, Pres/CEO of ICBA CRA Solutions and Steffani Jenkins, CRA Liaison, to discuss the foreseeable future of the law and also how important the law is to commun…

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🎙️The 5 (or 6) C’s of Credit – What Lenders REALLY Look For! 19:53

11M ago19:53

19:53

💰 Ever wondered how lenders decide whether to approve your loan? It all comes down to the 5 (or sometimes 6) C’s of Credit! In this episode of The Deep Dive on Business Funding, we break down the key factors that banks, lenders, and financial institutions analyze before saying YES to your loan application. Whether you're a small business owner, ent…

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The Pros and Cons of SBA Loans – Is It the Right Choice for Your Business? 18:24

11M ago18:24

18:24

Are SBA loans really the best funding option for small businesses? In this episode, we break down the real pros and cons of SBA loans, from low-interest rates and flexible terms to strict eligibility requirements and long approval times. If you're a business owner or entrepreneur looking for funding, you don’t want to miss this! We’ll cover: ✅ Who …

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Leveraging Flexible Work Space with Alaa Pasha from Maptician 29:45

11M ago29:45

29:45

We've done quite a bit of content over the last few years about ideas to use the space we have in out banks. I think it's a fascinating discussion because the ideas are wide ranging and have a HUGE amount of opportunity.I met Alaa and got to know Maptician's work and I like the way he approaches this topic...managing leases. I thought it spoke to b…

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Main Street Banking Economic Update January 31, 2025 11:29

11M ago11:29

11:29

It's been a long week this week with a ton of economic news....and you know us, when there's a news cycle like this, we bring on Jim Reber from ICBA Securities to give us a good comprehensive overview of what's going on.In the episode, he mentioned the webinar next week on Bank Strategy from Stifel. Register for that at https://stifel.zoom.us/webin…

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Answering an age-old question in bank management. Randy Goggans from BankerBounty 30:32

11M ago30:32

30:32

There's an age-old question in bank management that I've heard all the nearly 25 years I've been in the business. How do we get more business referrals from our employees? And the next question is going to be something like..."why didn't this incentive plan work?!"If that situation sounds familiar (and I'm betting it does because, ya know...it's ba…

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Main Street Economic News Q4 2024 with Jim Reber 9:17

1y ago9:17

9:17

December 18, 2024 the Fed made an announcement that many people did not see coming. So, whenever the Fed does something, we bring on Jim Reber to digest it for us and explain it to the community banking industry.Be sure to check out ICBA Securities at www.icba.org/icba-securitiesBy Barret School of Banking

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A Look Back and Ahead with Jimmy Sawyers Pt 1 37:56

1y ago37:56

37:56

It's always fun to sit down with Jimmy Sawyers and look back at his predictions for the most recent year. We've done this since the very beginning of the podcast and it's been great every time. Today's episode is predictions 1-5 that he made for 2024...and let's see how he did!Check out Sawyers and Jacobs at https://sawyersjacobs.com/And also many …

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A Look Back and Ahead with Jimmy Sawyers Pt 2 30:46

1y ago30:46

30:46

It's always fun to sit down with Jimmy Sawyers and look back at his predictions for the most recent year. We've done this since the very beginning of the podcast and it's been great every time.Today's episode is predictions 6-10 that he made for 2024...and let's see how he did!Check out Sawyers and Jacobs at sawyersjacobs.com/And also many thanks t…

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Looking Back at 2024 With Greyson Tuck 40:06

1y ago40:06

40:06

That time of the year when we take a look back with our friends at Gerrish Smith Tuck and what they've seen are some of the issues we've faced this past year and what's coming ahead.To learn more about Gerrish Smith Tuck, check out https://gerrish.com/And many thanks to ICBA Securities for their continued support.…

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The Banque 37:12

1y ago37:12

37:12

Well, Barret has a BIG announcement and it's one we've been working on for right at a year-and-a-half. I don't know when I've been more excited to be make an episode!!Barret has entered partnership with The Banque, a new banking simulation centered around teaching the players actual banking! We've worked with Dave Sidon during the last year or so a…

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Main Street Banking Market Update November 2024 11:10

1y ago11:10

11:10

Well, it's been a slightly busy week and a half hasn't it!? Only a little bit of news that has market impact, right? Seriously, there's been quite a few things moving in the markets and whenever there's news you can use...we bring in Jim Reber, CEO of ICBA Securities to help us get our arms around the material.Be sure to check out ICBA Securities a…

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Accountability in Banking with Eric Alexander 31:32

1y ago31:32

31:32

This is sort of a part 2 to the last time we had Eric on discussing collaboration. As you can tell, I love talking to Eric and his insights from his career are always insightful and inspiring to me as I hope they are to you. I love this idea of accountability. It takes a lot of work and a lot of pride swallowing sometimes but that's the point in a …

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Main Street Economic Update with ICBA Securities 11:45

1+ y ago11:45

11:45

Whenever there's economic news that matters to community banks, why not turn to the experts. Jim Reber, CEO of ICBA Securities, is on today to summarize and contextualize today's economic news.To learn more about the Balance Sheet Academy referenced in the show, check out https://www.icba.org/events/details/2024/10/28/icba-securities/balance-sheet-…

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Collaboration In Banking With Eric Alexander 34:17

1+ y ago34:17

34:17

Eric Alexander with Six Arrows Consulting is back to talk about collaboration in banking. This will be, likely, a two-part series on tearing down those infernal silos we have in banking. Long time listeners will know that the "silo-ing" in banking is one of my biggest pet peeves and Eric's approach to team building, collaboration, and culture from …

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Demystifying Data with Tim Dively from CLA 32:58

1+ y ago32:58

32:58

You go to a convention or you see a brand new shiny product on LinkedIn and it sounds great. But do you need it?Truth is...I can't really answer that for you. You make that call. But the question DOES arise...how do you know if you need it? How do you even know what data can do to figure out if it's even something that strategically works for you.I…

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Raise All Boats: Danny Kelly with Hometown Bank 56:32

1+ y ago56:32

56:32

We're continuing our theme around banking with a purpose...what does community involvement really look like? What are some cool stories from community banks that are affecting real change in their local communities? Danny Kelly is the CEO of Hometown Bank in Oneonta, AL. You may remember him from a previous Main Street Banking episode and their rea…

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The Giving Cup: Community Banking With A Purpose 25:27

1+ y ago25:27

25:27

Sharon Anderson is the CEO/President of Williamstown Bank in Williamstown WV. In February of 2020, they implemented a community-driven coffee business similar to what you have seen on this podcast before and, to date, have nearly raised $50,000 that goes directly to charities in the local community. As someone who has watched this from Memphis, it …