The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation recently held a forum on small lending to explore ways in which credit can be made more accessible to the small business sector. As a result of the forum and in recognition of the importance of available credit to small businesses, the FDIC announced the formation of a new dedicated, toll-free hotline for small businesses. The new hotline allows small business owners to make inquiries with FDIC officials or to register concerns about the availability of credit. The small business hotline is operational Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. The toll-free number is 1-855-FDIC-BIZ (1-855-334-2249). There is also a dedicated website:  www.fdic.gov/smallbusiness.