Across second-quarter 2026 earnings calls, one theme stood out: banks are originating loans at a healthy clip, yet balance sheets are barely growing because loan payoffs are running just as fast. S&P Global Market Intelligence reported that banks attributed the elevated payoffs to refinancing, asset and collateral sales driven by borrower liquidity events, normal project...

If you are a commercial lender at a community or regional bank, the prepayment provision on your fixed-rate loans is probably the least-discussed and most valuable term in your credit agreement. Most banks either negotiate away prepayment protection entirely or rely on a step-down penalty that borrowers routinely force banks to waive at payoff. A...

Every commercial lender knows the feeling.  The bank took the hardest risk on a project – the construction phase. The bank managed the draws, monitored the budget, inspected the site, and shepherded the borrower through permitting delays and cost overruns.  Then, just as the project stabilizes and the loan finally becomes easy to hold, the...