Keeping it Local – New Washington State Bank
This is the second article in our series about the companies and people we interact with on a routine basis. We believe that the small business truly embodies the American spirit.
Every small business needs a bank as a trusted partner – not just some place to stash the cash. You will want to make sure that the bank you choose has the products you need and has the people on site to help you grow your business. Plus, good idea to establish a relationship with a banker before you need to borrow funds. You will want your bank to know and understand the needs of an emerging and growing business. You will also want to make sure that your chosen financial institution participates in the Small Business Administration’s loan program. You can check out the performance statistics of all participating institutions at the SBA’s web site.
We really had a myriad of questions to ask when we chose our bank. We devised a checklist (which we will share with you) and used it to select our bank. In addition to what is on the spreadsheet, we also wanted to make sure that we didn’t do business with any institution who took TARP funds and (a) used them to fund acquisitions and/or executive bonuses or (b) is delinquent in paying them back. (Ed. note: it’s a personal peeve of ours.)
We chose to use New Washington State Bank as our financial institution partner. We wanted a state chartered bank that was active in the local community. New Washington fit that profile. When we first met with them, they took the time to get to know us. Their motto is “Everything we do, is for you” and they live that every day!
When you meet with the people at New Washington State Bank, you’re immediately at ease. It’s a very friendly environment and they go out of their way to make sure that you’re comfortable with their products and services. In addition to a variety of business financial products, they offer personal banking as well.