This recap blog was written by Jevaughn Sterling with Amegy Bank, a member of the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce as a part of the Black Business Alliance BBA Café Series.
Unlocking Business Potential Through Amegy Bank’s Small Business Roundtable Series
At Amegy Bank, we recognize that securing funding for business operations can be a significant challenge for business owners. Embracing our motto, “Here You Grow,” the Amegy Bank Small Business Roundtable Series goes beyond merely providing capital by connecting business owners with skilled and empathetic bankers who offer comprehensive financial solutions and support.
The complimentary series aims to help businesses overcome obstacles that may hinder their growth potential. During the series, bankers strive to understand the issues that keep business owners up at night, fostering a secure environment where they feel comfortable sharing their vulnerabilities and discussing openly their business situations. By addressing these concerns proactively and employing Amegy Bank’s industry-leading services, the Small Business Roundtable Series creates opportunities for businesses to thrive.
Session Two: How banks work with “mission-based” community lenders like Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)
During the April 16 session, Jennifer Dale, Vice President – LiftFund discussed critical loan funding topics such as:
- How the owner’s money personality influence business financing decisions.
- Understanding the 5C’s of Credit as an essential framework to evaluate funding options.
- Understanding credit bureaus and getting ready to apply for credit.
Derric Hicks, President, Texas Mezzanine Fund also discussed critical loan funding topics, such as:
- How CDFIs provide access to credit through lending and financial education.
- How CDFI financing options work alongside traditional banks or serving as an alternative.
- Calculating debt service coverage: the amount of debt payments that a business can comfortably support.
Business owners had the opportunity to engage with and seek guidance from bankers or delve into more niche topics such as building processes, operational scaling, when it’s time to upscale, relationship banking, creating a team of providers and more.
Since the inception of the Amegy Bank Small Business Roundtable Series, we have served nearly 400 businesses and professionals across Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston. Our commitment to knowledge sharing has delivered tangible results, including fostering trusted relationship banking opportunities and equipping business owners with the confidence to secure financing that benefits their long-term business goals, employees and families. By supporting businesses in this way, we aim to contribute to a social capital marketplace, creating a positive impact across the broader community.
Please reach out to Shirley Cox (Shirley.cox@amegybank.com) with questions or to get involved.
Join us for the rest of the series!
Session One Recap – Accounting & Business Structures
June 18th – Business Counseling and Growing Your Business Through Certifications
August 20th – Real Estate, Insurance, and Cybersecurity
