Landing the Loan How some women are approaching bank loans.

Are bank loans still difficult for women to obtain? "Maybe 15 or 20 years ago that was the case," says Maria Coyne, executive vice president and national sales manager of community banking for KeyBank National Association.

"However, banks are now much smarter about serving their female clients and understanding their needs."

Coyne, who manages Key4Women, a resource for women business owners, says that in the past two years, KeyBank has loaned more than $2 billion to female entrepreneurs. That includes lending $150,000 to Sharon Thompson, 50, president of Ambience Salon Spa in West Chester, Ohio. The $2 million company was in business for six years before Thompson applied for an SBA loan.