Area bank surpasses $1 billion in PPP loans

First Home Bank’s small business lending division has surpassed $1 billion in Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loans, which is part of the COVID-19 Relief Act passed by the U.S. Congress last year.

CreditBench, First Home’s U.S. Small Business Administration lending arm, is one of the largest lenders in the Tampa Bay region of the forgivable PPP loans, which are intended to cover businesses’ payroll, rent and other expenses during the pandemic to avoid layoffs and business disruption.