Haverhill Bank is participating in a pilot loan program designed to help veterans and members of the military community establish or expand small businesses. The bank was named a Patriot Express Lender last month by the Small Business Association (SBA).

Eligible military community members include veterans, service-disabled veterans, active-duty service members eligible for the military’s Transition Assistance Program, reservists and National Guard members, current spouses of any of the above and widowed spouses of a service member or veteran who died during service or of a service-connected disability.

"As a community bank, Haverhill Bank is committed to supporting small businesses in our area," said Haverhill Bank President and CEO Thomas L. Mortimer. "We regularly look for ways to promote the growth of small businesses, and are particularly pleased to offer a lending program that is specifically geared toward those members of the community that have served our country."

The Patriot Express Lender is a program that was devised especially for small businesses that are 51 percent or more owned or controlled by veterans or members of the military community. It is one of several loan programs offered under the SBA’s 7 (a) loan umbrella. Those programs are chiefly designed for start-up and small businesses that may not typically qualify for regular loans. Haverhill Bank participates in many of the SBA loans and is classified as a preferred lender. Applicants receive a streamlined lending process and expedited loan requests.