BENTONVILLE, AR - Sam??s Club has begun testing an online lending program with loans of up to $25,000 to qualifying business club members, the St. Louis Business Journal reports.

The pilot program, in partnership with Superior Financial Group, a SBA lender, will target minority-, women- and veteran-owned small businesses as well as micro-entrepreneurs under the SBA??s Premier Outreach Express products.

A November 2009 study by Sam's Club revealed that nearly 15 percent of its business members reported being denied a business loan, up from 12 percent in April 2009.

"We believe this pilot program is a step in the right direction to help fuel small business growth and create jobs to stimulate our economy," said Catherine Corley, vice president of membership at Sam??s Club. "It??s also simple to apply and costs less??"

SC members who apply for a small business loan online during the pilot program will receive a $100 discount from the application fee, a 20 percent discount and a 7.5 APR, which the company said represents a 25 basis point discount.