WASHINGTON— Could a new study pave the way for lifting the credit union member business lending cap?
A new poll from a GOP-aligned firm shows strong bipartisan voter support for removing the federal cap on small business lending by credit unions, the Washington Reporter said.
The survey found voters across party lines back expanded lending authority to help entrepreneurs, with Republican respondents expressing some of the strongest support—a result that could shift the outlook for pending credit union reform legislation.
According to the Washington Reporter, the GrayHouse poll (conducted Sept. 6–8, 2025, among 1,443 registered voters) posed a straightforward question: Should the current limit on credit union small-business lending be removed to let credit unions serve more small businesses? Voters answered with a resounding “yes.”
The poll found 62% of voters support lifting the cap on credit union small business lending, compared with 20% opposed and 18% undecided—a net +41 margin in favor. Support was strongest among Republicans at 71%, followed by 59% of independents and 54% of Democrats. Opposition remained low across the board, with just 15% of Republicans and 26% of Democrats against the change, highlighting the proposal’s bipartisan appeal, the Washington Reporter said.
“By a 41-point margin, Americans want to empower credit unions to lend more to small businesses – that’s a landslide in today’s polarized climate,” one polling analyst familiar with the results told the Washington Reporter.
At the center of the debate is a federal rule that limits credit unions’ member business loans to 12.25% of total assets. Established in 1998 to restrict credit union commercial lending, the cap has been criticized by industry advocates as a barrier to economic growth and affordable financing for small businesses.
Jason Stverak, chief advocacy officer for the Defense Credit Union Council, stressed the significance of the new findings.
“Congress cannot ignore this any longer. The American people—by a margin of more than 40 points—are demanding that credit unions be allowed to do more for small businesses,” Stverak told CUToday.info. “This isn’t just bipartisan support, it’s overwhelming public consensus.”
Stverak argued that momentum in both public opinion and policy circles makes the case for change undeniable.
“The cap on credit union business lending is an outdated relic from 1998 that stifles entrepreneurship, limits economic growth, and denies veterans and Main Street job creators access to affordable credit,” he said. With 71% of Republicans, nearly 60% of independents, and a majority of Democrats in favor, it’s time for Congress to act. Repealing the member business lending cap isn’t controversial—it’s common sense, and it’s urgently needed now.”
ACU's Perspective
America's Credit Unions President and CEO Jim Nussle emphasized how ACU has been a "driving force" in lobbying for bipartisan MBL reform."Enhancing credit unions' ability to serve small businesses and entrepreneurs is a clear policy win—lawmakers on both sides of the aisle support legislation to do so, and consumers agree," Nussle said. "Credit unions see the need to invest in local businesses to keep Main Street strong, but their hands are often tied by an outdated, arbitrary restriction on the amount of capital they can provide. As the cost of starting or running a business increases, it is imperative that laws and regulations be updated to keep up with the need. America's Credit Unions is relentless in our advocacy to fight for this change."