15th March, 2005: The Regions Financial Corporation (RFC) has been ranked as one of the best small business friendly financial services providers in the country for the fourth consecutive year, according to a U.S study.

A study was conducted in the SBA's Small and Micro Business Lending in the United States for Data Years 2002-2003. It shows that RFC is ranked third in the category of small business lending by large banks and bank holding companies.

A business loan worth less than $1 million is defined as a small business lending. Small businesses have been most successful in getting loans from 67 large banks and bank holding companies that have an asset value of more than $10 million.

The yearly SBA study shows that banks are now meeting the credit needs of small businesses and helping them to win in more credit competently. The ranking of RFC is based on the ratio of small business loans to total assets.