“Michael” owned an upscale sports car business. If you wanted to purchase a slightly-used Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Bugatti, Michael was your guy. If you wanted to customize your car with decals, mag wheels, or other “aftermarket” accouterments, call Michael. It could be a glamorous business, but it has a small, specialized market, not known Read More

“Pete” owns and operates a well-established plumbing company, founded in the 1920s. Pete had about two dozen employees and was a fixture in his community and the local Chamber of Commerce. For many years, his business thrived, providing plumbing contracting services to the local public school district. In 2008, the collapse of the real estate Read More

“Johnny” founded an LLC. The LLC was to be an a.m. radio show that covered topics of music, nightlife, and the social scene in New York City. He was also planning an informational website in conjunction with the show with an e-commerce function that would sell promotional merchandise such as t-shirts, hats, key chains and Read More

A “friend of a friend asking on behalf of another friend” asked me to help finance part of a building acquisition. “Michael” wanted the loan arranged through his representative, “Jay”. The amount requested was $1 million. With great flourish, Jay told me about Michael, who was requesting the money. I learned of Michael’s great wealth, Read More

“Ophelia” is a recently retired New York state corrections officer. I contacted her in advance of her incorporating her business. Her plans were to start a funeral home in the Queens borough in New York City. After listening to her plans, I described what her banking relationship should look like once she was incorporated. She Read More

I had a conversation with a wealthy married couple who wanted to borrow money to renovate two houses for quick resale. They were both financially savvy, and the wife was a talented decorator. At first, they asked about a mortgage to do this, hoping to hold the mortgages for a short period of time and Read More

“Ed” owns an outdoor clothing and equipment store. While he did well selling clothing and footwear for camping, hunting, skiing, and other outdoor recreation, he wanted to expand his store. He needed room for additional inventory that would now include kayaks and paddles, tents, skis, and other equipment. While profitable, those products are large and Read More

“Manny” called late one afternoon and needed a $1.5 million commercial real estate loan. Before discussing his bank relationship over the phone or initiating an application, I had to “authenticate” him. Authentication involves a series of questions about his bank relationship that only the proper owner could answer correctly. He answered them correctly and without Read More

A husband and wife team owned a plant nursery and garden store. The store was small, and located in a relatively upscale, established neighborhood. We saw each other from time to time when they came in to make deposits with the tellers. One day, they sat down with me and told me that they had Read More

A woman who was working as a highly paid scientist decided to start a clothing design business as a side venture. She used an incorporation service, and said that if we opened her checking, she wanted credit. She also said that a competing multi-state bank took good care of her. I called her back once Read More