Banking on loyalty: Economic boot camp for SMBs
USA: The financial services industry is finding creative ways to deal with the economic downturn - keeping customers loyal by offering them a valuable education that will help their businesses. The desired result is that both parties survive and grow together.
For most banks, lending is all about the numbers.
If a customer has the right credit score, good financial records and a believable plan, the bank is interested in doing business. If they don't, well, no dice, particularly in this economy.
Some banks are going beyond the numbers to develop long-term relationships, digging deeper to make sure business customers are doing all they can to survive the turbulent economy. It's a long tradition among community banks, which focus on serving businesses, consumers and farmers in their local market areas.
The extra attention ranges from financial checkups or priority-setting sessions at Commerce Bancshares and National City to Enterprise Bank & Trust's college-style courses.
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