05/12/2021: Bank of Belleville, others help bring more than $70M to the Metro East through PPP loans
Bank of Belleville, and its network of community banks, has obtained nearly $70 million of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans on behalf of small businesses throughout the area.
Bank of Belleville Chief Lending Officer, Wade Weitlauf, said over the last twelve months since PPP loan opportunities were created to help small businesses weather the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, the bank has completed nearly 650 loans for local businesses across the Metro East.
“We felt it was our obligation to the business community at large to do this for them,” said Weitlauf. “That’s why we helped as many as we could – even if they didn’t bank with us. It was a decision we made as a company, and it meant many team members, without hesitation, were working nights and weekends to make sure loans were processed as quickly as possible because this was personal to each client. We wanted to be sure everyone got the help they needed. So many folks were incredibly thankful that we helped them, especially when others would not or could not.”
