in my positions at iberiabank and 21 years with small business lending i understand the challenges we face getting through the current economic environment. over the past few years my unemployment resulted in less consumer spending and consumer spending is critical to boost sales of small businesses. the decline in sales of weak economic conditions led to weaker than normal in consistent demand for small-business loans. a recent study found for sales and uncertainty continued to be greater problems than access to credit. another factor diminished the demand for lending is value of home equity and home equity is traditionally a strong form of collateral many business owners use to secure their business loans. december study by federal reserve of cleveland found a decline in home values constrain the ability of small business owners to obtain the credit they need to finance their business. it is important to understand how the decline in sales of home values has affected small business lending. when banks underwrite loans will get two things -- cash flow both historical and projected as

a former executive at the hibernia bank and the executive vice president in my hometown of iberiabank in lafayette louisiana. this may make him a certified -- that he may be the able to understand me. he is capitalized in his finance expertise and his devoted much of his career to working on what makes small businesses work. his current role at iberiabank he is responsible for the retail segment including retail operations, credit card sales, retail training and small-business. before joining iberiabank you is the executive vice president of small-business banking at capital one covering texas louisiana maryland virginia d.c. new york new jersey and connecticut. i don't know how you connect texas and louisiana to the east coast. his team worked in tandem with capital one national small-business credit card team. mr. kottler headed capital one's branch division in texas and the texas area and served as iberia chief support sales office for iberia y. merger. mr. kottler started involvement of the consumer bankers association in 1995 as a member of cba's small business committee. is an e

a former executive at louisiana's iberiabank, he is vice-president near my home town.y make him a certified cajun. he may be able to understand me. mr. kottler has devoted much of his career to working on what makes small businesses work. in his current role at iberiabank, he is responsible for the retail segment including retail operations, if credit card sales, retail training, and small business. before joining iberiabank, he was executive vice president for small-business banking at capital one, covering texas, louisiana, maryland, d.c., and new york, new jersey, and connected. i do not know how you connected new jersey to the east coast. mr. kottler also hit capito 1's division in the texas area. he served as a high area's achieve sales but for the merger. his involvement in the consumer bankers association in 1995 as a memberth