Using a sample of 3,964 bank mergers during the 1999-2016 period, we examine the differential effects of merger and local market characteristics on local small business lending through banks' dependence on soft information acquisition relative to technology driven lending. Mergers involving...

[REVISED AUG 2019]We investigate the shrinking community banking sector and the impact on local small business lending (SBL) in the context of mergers and acquisitions. From all mergers that involved community banks, we examine the varying impact on SBL depending on the local presence of the...