Wells Fargo is closing two of its branches in the Lehigh Valley this spring “in light of changing customer needs, market factors and economic trends,” a statement from the bank said.

Don’t be afraid of the big bad recession. That was the core message that Jay Bryson, managing director and chief economist for Wells Fargo, had for the crowd at the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Economic Outlook 2003. 

Mid-sized companies, industry analysts say, prospered during the COVID-19 pandemic, but now face roadblocks that inhibit continued growth. 

Wells Fargo has selected Lancaster-based Community First Fund to receive a $3 million grant as part of its Open for Business Fund, a nationwide small business recovery effort.

COVID-19 continues to take an economic toll as cases and deaths surge across America, causing the outlook for the current quarter and first quarter of 2021 to be downgraded.

The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and business leaders in the community raised and granted $353,000 to local small businesses struggling with COVID-19-related expenses.

The unprecedented volume of crisis loan applications is shifting lender-borrower relationships, as community banks establish lending relationships with small business owners who struggled to receive financial support at bigger banks.