United Bank gets Lender of the Year award

Date: 2/6/2013

WEST SPRINGFIELD – Richard B. Collins, president and CEO of United Bank, announced on Jan. 25 that the bank was named the top business lender in Western Massachusetts by the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA).

The "Lender of the Year" designation honors United Bank's fiscal 2012 performance in the SBA's 7(a) loan program, which helps start-ups and existing small businesses with financing guaranteed for a variety of general business purposes.

SBA does not make loans itself, but rather guarantees loans made by participating lending institutions, according to Collins.

"At United Bank, we're doing everything we can to help improve the economic environment in the markets we serve," Collins said. "Small businesses and start-up companies are the key to the future; their success is everyone's success."