Maine banks have money to lend, says official

AUGUSTA – The upheaval in national financial markets isn’t stopping Maine banks from lending money, said the head of the state’s Bureau of Financial Institutions, which oversees banks and credit unions.

Lloyd LaFountain said his office contacted several banks this week to check their liquidity levels, and there doesn’t seem to be any drying up of mortgages or auto loans. LaFountain also said the bureau hasn’t heard of lending complaints from consumers.

The meltdown among financial institutions on Wall Street has created worries about the effects in towns and cities across the country. But so far, the problem doesn’t seem to be affecting Maine businesses or consumers.

Andrew Silsby, senior vice president and treasurer at Kennebec Savings Bank, said the bank is picking up business with mortgages as people turn away from mortgage lenders, some of whom offered risky subprime mortgages, and return to community banks.

The Maine Educational Loan Authority, which handles private loans for students who have exhausted their federal loans, grants and scholarships, has money to lend for the current school year, said Executive Director Shirley Erickson.

The Maine Merchants Association and NFIB Maine and the state branch of the National Federation of Independent Business say they haven’t heard from any business members who have had trouble getting loans. Dana Connors, president of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, said that while he hasn’t heard from businesses experiencing problems, “people are tightening their belts.”