Missed Opportunities?

American Banker reporter Sara Oppenheim found it interesting that at the small business owners conference sponsored by Inc. magazine she found numerous finance companies and venture capitalists represented.

But only one banker.

The $848 million-asset Massbank for Savings President and CEO, Gerard Brandi, was the only banker in attendance.

No wonder small business owners are turning more often to other sources for their loans. They have found a others more willing to grant them credit, according to many who were interviewed.

They also voiced the opinion that traditional bankers ask for personal guarantees, and do not realize that some rapidly growing, non-traditional businesses will not fit most bankers' definitions of viable enterprises.

Copyright © 1997 Bankers' Hotline. Originally appeared in Bankers' Hotline, Vol. 7, No. 8, 7/97