Michigan Business Connection

What Michigan Business Connection does

Michigan Business Connection (MBC) is a privately held Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO), founded in 2004 and headquartered at 2200 Commonwealth, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, Michigan. It was established by a group of Michigan credit unions to share the costs and risks of member business lending (MBL), and today it underwrites, originates, documents, closes, services, and trades participations in commercial loans on behalf of a network of 40+ Michigan credit union partners and their business members. As of November 2023 MBC managed a commercial lending portfolio exceeding $1.5 billion and has cumulatively originated more than $2.25 billion in business loans across 51 Michigan counties, financing thousands of Michigan small businesses and commercial real estate owners through its partner network.

The platform is purpose-built for credit-union-mediated commercial lending. Core technology includes the secure Lender Portal (secure.mbcloans.biz) and Borrower Portal, a FISERV-based loan servicing system handling payment posting, ACH transactions, escrow/property tax processing, adjustable-rate monitoring, and exception/delinquency reporting, plus a Core-to-Core Data Transfer Service launched in May 2019 to automate data exchange with credit unions' core banking systems. Secure communications are handled via Zix and LinkLive, with Adobe Sign / Sageworks used for e-signature and funds transfer initiation. Loan offerings span commercial real estate mortgages (acquisition, refinance, build, renovation), equipment and vehicle financing, lines of credit, SBA loans, MEDC programs (Capital Access, Collateral Support, Loan Participation), USDA loans, C-PACE financing, and a Small CU Participation Program with $25K-$100K participation increments for smaller partner credit unions.

MBC makes money primarily through recurring subscriptions from credit union partners (multiple service tiers covering origination, underwriting, participation network, documentation, servicing, and consulting/training), per-loan origination/underwriting/documentation/servicing fees, reduced-fee participation program charges for smaller credit unions, fee-based consulting and training engagements, and facilitation fees on specialty programs (SBA, MEDC, C-PACE). Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Its go-to-market is hybrid: direct sales to credit unions via the in-house Credit Union Growth and Development team, an inside-sales motion for credit-union subscriptions, event-driven demand generation (12+ monthly commercial-lending webinars, the CU Lunch Local campaign in 13+ states, industry sponsorships), and a channel-partner model in which 40+ Michigan credit unions serve as the local, community-based distribution points to business borrowers.

Name

Michigan Business Connection

Legal name

Michigan Business Connection, LLC

Website

https://mbcloans.biz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Michigan Business Connection is a Michigan Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO) that underwrites, originates, services, and trades participations in commercial loans for a network of 40+ credit union partners serving small businesses and commercial real estate owners across 51 Michigan counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Lending Services (CUSO)

NAICS

Credit Unions (522130), Credit Unions (52213), Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320), Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (522)

SIC

Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111), Finance Services (6199), National Commercial Banks (6021), Personal Credit Institutions (6141)

akta.pro primary industry

Loan Operations & Servicing (Consumer/SME/Corporate) (FSABALAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Account Opening, KYC/AML & Customer Due Diligence (CDD/EDD) (FSABALAA)

Keywords

• Commercial lending services
• Credit union CUSO
• Loan participation network
• Commercial real estate financing
• Small business lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Ann Arbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Subscription Service for Credit Union Partners: Recurring subscription revenue from credit union partners gaining access to MBC's full suite of services including the participation network, loan accounting, month-end/quarterly reporting, and annual loan reviews. Multiple service levels available, tailored to where the credit union is in its member business lending journey.
2. Origination / Underwriting / Documentation / Servicing Fees: Per-loan or bundled service fees charged to credit unions for loan origination support, underwriting services, documentation preparation, loan closing coordination, and ongoing loan servicing. The loan participation network is also available as an unbundled solution.
3. Small CU Participation Program Fees: Reduced-fee participation program for smaller credit unions (e.g., Michigan Coastal Credit Union was the first participant in 2021) with participation increments as low as $25,000 and capped at $100,000. MBC 'significantly reduced service charges' for this mission-driven program.
4. Consulting and Training Services: Fee-based consulting engagements and training for credit unions on commercial lending products, processes, regulatory compliance (NCUA rules), and goals. Delivered via monthly webinars, on-site workshops (e.g., MBL Credit Policy Development Workshop in 2016), and custom engagements.
5. Specialty Program Facilitation (e.g., C-PACE, SBA, MEDC): Revenue from facilitating specialty financing programs such as Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) with partners like Green Portfolio Solutions, SBA loans, and Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) programs (Capital Access Program, Collateral Support Program, Loan Participation Program).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Michigan Business Connection (MBC) is a Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO) that underwrites, originates, and services commercial loans on behalf of a network of 40+ Michigan credit unions. It provides end-to-end commercial lending capabilities — including origination, underwriting, documentation, loan participation trading, servicing, and consulting — to credit unions, with the funded loans delivered to Michigan small businesses, commercial real estate owners, and equipment/working-capital borrowers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Real Estate Loans Financing for Michigan business owners and commercial real estate owners to buy, refinance, build, expand, or renovate office buildings, shopping centers, industrial warehouses, apartment complexes, and other commercial properties. Loans are underwritten and originated by MBC and funded through its network of Michigan credit unions.
• Equipment Financing Term loans for Michigan businesses to finance equipment and vehicle purchases, typically structured with variable or fixed rates and generally without prepayment penalties or restrictions.
• Business Line of Credit Revolving credit facility for Michigan small businesses that funds only what is needed, for only as long as it is needed, with interest charged only on the amount used. Most lines are variable-rate with low upfront and annual costs.
• SBA Loan Facilitation Facilitation of SBA-guaranteed loans (including PPP during COVID-19) for Michigan small businesses, leveraging MBC's credit union partner network and SBA program expertise to deliver competitive SBA rates.
• MEDC and State Program Facilitation Facilitation of Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) programs — Capital Access Program, Collateral Support Program, and Loan Participation Program — helping Michigan businesses and credit unions access state economic development resources.
• C-PACE Financing Facilitation Facilitation of Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing for commercial property owners and developers undertaking energy efficiency and clean energy projects, delivered in partnership with Green Portfolio Solutions.
• Credit Union Member Business Lending (MBL) Subscription Subscription-based full-service MBL platform for Michigan credit unions, providing origination, underwriting, participation network, documentation, servicing, consulting, training, and annual loan reviews — available as bundled or unbundled solutions at multiple service levels.
• Loan Participation Network Online loan participation trading platform for credit unions to buy and sell business loan participations across the MBC network, including loan accounting, payment collection, and distribution services for participated loans.
• Small CU Participation Program Reduced-fee participation program for smaller Michigan credit unions enabling portfolio diversification through business loan participations at increments as low as $25,000 (capped at $100,000), with significantly reduced service charges.
• Consulting and Training for Credit Unions Commercial lending consulting and training services for credit unions on products, processes, NCUA regulatory compliance, and MBL program development, delivered through monthly webinars, workshops, and custom engagements.
• Core-to-Core Data Transfer Service Automated data transfer service that integrates credit union core banking platforms with MBC's FISERV-based loan servicing system, improving operational efficiency for partner credit unions.

Quantifiable outcome

• $2.25 Billion+ in cumulative business loans originated and managed across thousands of Michigan businesses and commercial real estate owners.
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered mid-tier, high, flagship and flagship (launch partner).

• Green Portfolio Solutionsmid-tierStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2024Co-presented with MBC on Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing in a November 19, 2024 webinar. Robert Mattler (Managing Member, Green Portfolio Solutions) and Kirk Albert (Chief Lending Officer, MBC) / Lisa Bradley (MBC) jointly educate lenders and property owners on C-PACE financing.
• Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)highStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2024MBC co-hosted an October 15, 2024 webinar with MEDC's Capital Access team (Christopher Cook, Managing Director, Capital Access). MBC facilitates MEDC's Capital Access Program (CAP), Collateral Support Program, and Loan Participation Program for Michigan businesses, helping credit unions and business borrowers access these state economic development resources.
• Lake Trust Credit UnionflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 January 2024Lake Trust Credit Union is a strategic partner; David Morgan, Lake Trust's Chief Lending Officer (and previously of Notre Dame FCU and Talmer Bank), joined MBC's Board of Managers in January 2024 alongside Patty Corkery (Michigan Credit Union League CEO). Lake Trust and MBC also co-host events such as the Lake Trust Foundation Golf Invitational. Lake Trust operates as a Community Development Financial Institution, aligning strongly with MBC's mission.
• Michigan Credit Union LeaguehighGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 January 2024Michigan Credit Union League (MCUL) — Patty Corkery, President/CEO since 2018, joined MBC's Board of Managers in January 2024. Strategic industry-association alignment supporting the credit union cooperative movement and 'people helping people' philosophy.
• Michigan Coastal Credit Unionflagship (launch partner)Channel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 7 June 2021Michigan Coastal Credit Union ($22 Million, Muskegon MI) was the first participant in MBC's Small Credit Union Participation Program launched in 2021. The program enables smaller credit unions to participate in business loans with increments as low as $25,000 and capped at $100,000, with MBC significantly reducing service charges to help smaller charters grow.
• Various Michigan Credit Union Core Banking System Vendorsmid-tierTechnology or Integration · 30 May 2019MBC launched a Core-to-Core Data Transfer Service in May 2019 enabling automated data exchange between credit unions' core banking platforms and MBC's loan servicing system, improving operational efficiency for credit union partners.
• Flint Area School Employees Credit Unionmid-tierChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 11 October 2016Michigan Business Connection announced a partnership with Flint Area School Employees Credit Union in October 2016. The credit union joined MBC's network of partner lenders to offer commercial loans to its business members.
• TLC Community Credit Unionmid-tierChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 31 August 2016Michigan Business Connection announced a partnership with TLC Community Credit Union in August 2016, adding TLC as a credit union partner using MBC's commercial lending CUSO platform. TLC CU serves as one of MBC's network lenders distributing MBC-originated commercial loans to its business members in Michigan.
• Zix Corporationmid-tierTechnology or Integration · 31 August 2016MBC uses Zix email encryption (Zix Message Center) as its secure email platform for exchanging confidential borrower and loan information with credit union partners and business borrowers. The free Zix portal is integrated with MBC's email systems.
• LinkLive (Secure Bank Solutions)mid-tierTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2016MBC uses LinkLive secure email (by Secure Bank Solutions, 570700005) as an alternative secure email channel for confidential communications with credit unions and business borrowers.
• FISERVhighTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2016FISERV is the loan servicing system used by MBC; FISERV knowledge is explicitly preferred in job postings (e.g., Commercial Loan Servicer). Powers MBC's loan payment posting, ACH transactions, escrow processing, and reporting.
• Adobe Sign / Sageworks e-Signmid-tierTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2016MBC uses Adobe Sign (via Sageworks) for electronic signatures and funds transfer — integrated on its Make Payment page (sageworksign.na2.echosign.com).

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CUNA Mutual Group: Insurance and financial services company owned by and serving credit unions; overlaps with MBC as a broad CUSO-aligned incumbent providing credit unions with mission-driven products and services.
• CoBank: Farm Credit System bank that provides wholesale lending, syndications, and participations to credit unions, cooperatives, and rural lenders; comparable as a large institutional lender to financial cooperatives operating in a similar credit-intermediation niche.
• Alloya Corporate Credit Union: Corporate credit union providing correspondent lending, participations, and advisory services to credit unions; overlaps with MBC's role of intermediating capital among credit-union partners for commercial and member business loans.
• PSCU / Cooperative Services: One of the largest credit union service organizations in the U.S., providing payments, digital, analytics, and lending-adjacent services to thousands of credit unions; comparable as a broad-scope CUSO that competes for the same partner relationships MBC relies on.
• Corporate Central Credit Union: Corporate credit union serving member credit unions with liquidity, correspondent lending, and MBL participation programs; an incumbent institutional peer offering commercial lending infrastructure to credit unions at scale.

Emerging players

• Open Lending: Provider of risk analytics, loan scoring, and program management services enabling credit unions and banks to offer near-prime auto loans; an emerging CUSO-adjacent player that competes for credit-union lending-program spend, though in auto rather than commercial.
• Curql Collective: CUSO investment vehicle backed by credit unions to deploy capital into fintech and lending technology; an emerging CUSO that could enable credit unions to build alternatives to MBC's lending platform or partner with MBC's competitors.

Regional players

• Catalyst Corporate Federal Credit Union: Corporate credit union serving member credit unions with correspondent lending, liquidity, and MBL-related services; comparable regional CUSO whose member business lending programs directly overlap with MBC's offering, though concentrated in different geographies.

Direct peers

• Members Development Company: Texas-based Credit Union Service Organization that provides member business lending (MBL) infrastructure, loan participations, and commercial loan servicing to partner credit unions, operating an analogous CUSO model to Michigan Business Connection in a different state.

Others

• CU*Answers: Credit union service organization providing core processing, IT, and digital banking infrastructure to credit unions; adjacent peer in the broader CUSO ecosystem where MBC's technology and servicing investments compete for credit-union IT spend.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MichiganBusinessConnection
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/michigan-business-connection

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Michigan Business Connection