The Wall Street Journal recently used computer-assisted reporting to show that big banks - despite ads to the contrary - don't lend that much to small businesses.
The newspaper studied bank filings (known as call reports) to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. The computer helped the paper sift through almost 12,000 reports, and help compare small business deals versus overall company loans.
The newspaper contrasted the numbers with the banks' advertising claims. It also described how small business owners face a tough time getting loans, and how analysts believe the decline of local banking means tougher times ahead.