This is the fundamental rationale for the local lending officer, neglected by Levine's piece: Someone who overhears gossip about local businesses -- at charity

This is the fundamental rationale for the local lending officer, neglected by Levine's piece: Someone who overhears gossip about local businesses -- at charity board meetings, little-league barbecues or the like -- can then make better guesses as to which borrowers are or are not good risks.