Pub. 3 2013 Issue 3

6 www.azbankers.org 111 West Monroe, Suite 440 Phoenix, Arizona 85003 Phone: (602) 258-1200 • Fax: (602) 258-8980 AzBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2012-2013 Lynne Herndon, Chairman City President BBVA Compass Bank Mike Thorell, Chairman-Elect President Pinnacle Bank Benito Almanza, Vice-Chair Arizona President Bank of America James Lundy, Immediate Past Chairman CEO Alliance Bank of Arizona Jack Barry Arizona Chairman, Enterprise Bank & Trust Toby Day Arizona President Arizona Business Bank Gail Grace President & CEO Sunrise Bank of Arizona Stephen Johnson President & CEO, Arizona BMO Harris Bank Chuck Luhtala President Canyon Community Bank Dave Ralston CEO, Bank of Arizona Brian Riley President & CEO Mohave State Bank Joseph Stewart Chairman & CEO, Arizona JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Gerrit Van Huisstede Regional President Wells Fargo Bank Candace Wiest President & CEO West Valley Na Ɵ onal Bank AzBA STAFF Paul Hickman President & CEO Jan Arredondo Director, Administra Ɵ on Theresa Kleinlein Director, Marke Ɵ ng and Member Services Arizona Bankers Association Broadens the Lines of Communication Between Small Businesses and Valley Banks I T CAN BE FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU DON’T QUITE UNDERSTAND HOW THE APPLICA ͳ TION PROCESS WORKS ON RECEIVING A SMALL BUSINESS LOAN. THE AZBA RECENTLY CONVENED A GROUP OF EAST VALLEY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND COMMUNITY BANK LENDERS TO ATTEMPT TO BRIDGE THAT GAP. THE EVENT TOOK PLACE AT THE Hub Grill in East Mesa and included small businesses ranging from dry cleaners to pet stores. The event was hosted by the Arizona Bankers Association and moderated by Arizona Rep. Tom Forese (R-Chandler). “I am grateful to the Bankers Associa- tion for understanding the need for better communication between these two critical sectors of our economy. With their help we can build on this dialogue going forward.” Topics included: interest rates and small business loans, regulatory and market pressures that impact loans, approval process, documentation process, and col- lateral requirements. Steve Emerson, President of Careful Cleaners Dry Cleaning, remarked “I am thrilled by the willingness of the bankers to take the time out of their day to provide advice on accessing capital for the small business community.” Sharon Miller, President of Unison Bank in Mesa, described the event as “a splendid opportunity to educate the banker and the entrepreneur on the unique pressures and needs of both communities. It was also a catalyst for economic growth in terms of potential business relationships.” AzBA CEO and President, Paul Hickman, said, “I regard it as an essential function of the Bankers Association to facilitate the necessary communication between our member banks and their potential small business customers in order to enhance commerce in our state. This dialogue was productive and significant and I thank all participants—particularly Rep. Forese for recognizing the need for this type of forum and working to make it a success. I look forward to repli- cating it throughout the state.” Z