Package-delivery giant United Parcel Service of America Inc. (UPS) is looking to increase competition in the local financial market -- a move that has put some local lenders on alert.

UPS Capital, the financial services arm of Atlanta-based UPS, plans to beef up its Small Business Administration 7(a) and 504 lending services for new and existing companies as part of a recently launched marketing program directed at franchisors.

Though UPS already does SBA lending with franchisees, the point of the marketing campaign is to expand the business by promoting the program to franchisors in industries such as food, entertainment, petroleum, health care and education.
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