TD Bank announced recently that it received the 2015 TNS Choice Award for Small Business Banking at the “national achievement” level.

Global research consulting firm TNS gives Choice Awards nationally and regionally in several categories each year. This is the first win for TD, according to a news release.

The Small Business Banking category includes financial institutions that provide small business products and services to businesses with annual sales of $10 million or less. 

Scott Sharp, TD Bank regional vice president for the market area that includes Wilmington, sees increasing opportunities for small business lending in his market.

“Local business owners are more optimistic about their business prospects and potential for revenue growth in 2015,” he said. “We are seeing opportunity in the manufacturing, franchise, real estate and medical industries, and with credit availability, any small business can be a loan candidate. TD Bank looks at each potential customer on a case-by-case basis, and we act as local lenders with local decision making.”

TNS determines the winners of its Choice Awards by collecting data in a number of areas, including ability to attract and retain customers and win a larger share of their clients’ banking business, the release stated. The firm then calculates an overall “competitive momentum score,” and gives the award to the provider in each category with the highest score.

TD Bank rose to the top in this analysis, said Michael Ennamorato, TNS managing director.

“Success in today’s competitive banking marketplace requires doing many things well – having the right products, offering the right customer experience, building a distinctive brand and communicating a credible and compelling message,” he said in the release. “TD Bank has put together a small business program that yields success across these areas and makes them stand out in the marketplace.”