A survey from Bankrate asked people to list their biggest financial mistakes. The findings were interesting, with the top position of "not saving enough for retirement early enough" at 22%, closely followed by "none" at 20%. Rounding out the rest of the top 5 is: not saving enough for emergency expenses (16%), taking on too much credit card debt (9%), and taking on too much student loan debt (9%).
Everyone makes mistakes, which is why bankers seeking to perhaps learn from errors of the past should find our discussion on mentoring/advising small business owners pertinent.
All bankers want to keep earning the appreciation and more business from businesses customers. Some community banks found a way to do this beyond the usual offerings. They have turned their focus more towards providing mentoring/advisory services to help these customers better succeed.
For example, a CA community bank was behind the push to open an SBA Small Business Development Center program in its market area. The CEO led the effort and the structure is interesting yet simple. The bank pays for a counselor to help small businesses either just starting out or trying to expand. The counselor works with business owners on business plans, ways to access more capital, etc. As one of the two founding sponsors, the bank's name and logo are displayed prominently on the center's website and on materials distributed to small businesses. In this way, appreciative customers and potential customers know they can obtain SBA loans and other products and services with the bank to help their companies grow.
Yet another community bank based in OH offers an in-house advisor at its branches to help small businesses. The advisor provides guidance on how to manage expenses and cash flow, among other things. He also advises on how to best structure lines of credit to maintain the appropriate amount of working capital needed from month to month to help businesses expand. While the bank's advisor makes clear he does not provide legal or tax advice, small business owners think of him as "a trusted advisor," much as they regard their attorney and accountant.
Still another bank in CA publishes an online business magazine on a website separate from its main banking website. Some of the articles outside of banking advice include, "Why Entrepreneurs Need to Seek Mentors in Their Industry" and "Yes or No: Getting Clear Answers from Potential Investors." This bank offers international trade finance products and services, and provides tips within the magazine on how small businesses can connect with overseas partners and succeed in their trade activities.
Finally, consider a bank in VA that reaches its business customers through a blog within its main banking website. This blog offers advice to small businesses, as well as a directory of resources for small businesses. The bank's online directory also provides links to capital opportunities and links to the area's co-working spaces, for entrepreneurs on a tight budget. Above all, this bank stresses that its own business bankers are ready and willing to help small businesses, and they make sure to tie it all together so they can deepen relationships with their customers.
