People’s United, Webster, Union Savings Banks

Among Eagle Award Recipients

HARTFORD — Union Savings Bank, People’s United, and Webster Bank — all with branches in Newtown — were among the US Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 2010 Eagle Award recipients. These and other financial industry leaders were recognized at the SBA’s Annual Lenders & Partners Meeting at the Holiday Inn in North Haven October 5.

More than 125 lenders and resource partners attended this event, which featured Banking Commissioner Howard Pitkin as the keynote speaker.

SBA lending totaled more than $160 million in fiscal year 2010, a 25 percent increase over the 2009 lending level. At the lender’s meeting, the SBA recognized its valued lending partners and recognized several lenders for their contributions in designated loan areas.

The 2010 top lenders and partners recognized today were the following:

*Top 7(a) Lender, Leading 504 Participant: Webster Bank

*Top Dollar Lender: People’s United Bank

*Top 504 Lender, Top Microlender: Connecticut Community Investment Corp   

*Outstanding Contribution: Union Savings Bank

*Outstanding Contribution: Fairfield County Bank

*Emerging Lender: Farmington Bank

*Outstanding Resource: Metropolitan District Commission

*Outstanding Resource: The Hartford Business Journal

“Fortunately most borrowers benefited from the provisions of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009,” said Jeanne Hulit, SBA New England Regional Administrator “The Recovery Act provisions resulted in fee savings of more than $4.8 million for Connecticut’s small businesses.”

“One purpose of our Annual Lenders & Partners meeting is to publicly thank our partners for their tremendous support of the SBA and the Connecticut business communities by helping us deliver small business loans to Main Street businesses,” said Bernard Sweeney, Connecticut district director for the SBA. “We look forward to continuing the growth in SBA activity and partnerships throughout 2011.”

In addition to loan programs, the SBA and its partners provided counseling and training at numerous locations throughout the state during fiscal year 2010, serving an additional 18,000 existing or potential business owners.

The resource partners include SCORE, the Connecticut Small Business Development Center (CSBDC), and the Women’s Business Centers. The SBA has hosted a number of conferences in partnership with business, education and community groups.

To find a counseling location, call 860-240-4700 or visit www.sba.gov/ct.