Charles White, a veteran loan officer with nearly 20 years of experience helping Illinois small business owners access capital, has joined the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Illinois District Office as a lender relations specialist.
In his new role at the SBA’s Springfield branch, White will conduct trainings and other outreach activities across downstate Illinois to market the SBA’s lending programs and services and help lenders grow their volume of SBA-guaranteed loans.
“I look forward to assisting financial institutions and small business in Illinois in order to help stabilize and grow the economy,” White said. “The best advice I can give to small business owners is to utilize their accountant, attorney, insurance agent, real estate agent and banker to the fullest extent possible,” White said. “Consider them more like a board of directors there to help you and your business succeed.”
For small businesses at any stage, access to capital can mean the difference between success and failure, and SBA-guaranteed loans can fill that need. The agency doesn’t lend money directly to small business owners, but it instead sets guidelines for loans made by its partnering lenders, community development organizations, and micro-lending institutions. The SBA reduces risk for lenders, making it easier for small businesses to get loans. Lender relations specialists like White play a critical role in supporting and educating lenders about how the SBA can help their customers.
“We’re thrilled to have a small business lending expert like Charles join the SBA Illinois District team,” said SBA Illinois acting district director Nancy Libersky. “He brings a wealth of experience that will help us expand our message and support lenders across central and southern Illinois.”
Most recently, White served as senior vice president at Illinois Business Financial Services, a Certified Development Company that works with the SBA to deliver 504 loans. He’s also worked with small business lending at Town and County Bank, Illini Bank and Marine Bank, as well as with SomerCor 504 and Small Business Growth Corp., which are CDCs. White is a graduate of Illinois College in Jacksonville and lives in Jacksonville with his family of four.
