(StatePoint) Small businesses are the heartbeat of communities. They pump life into neighborhoods, making them vibrant places to live, work and raise families, and are key to millions of local jobs. In fact, approximately 50% of all Americans are employed by a small business and 99% of American businesses are small businesses, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

"Small business is big business," said Wells Fargo's head of Small Business Derek Ellington. "As a bank that proudly serves over 3 million small business customers, we are still supporting small businesses in their...