Blogs

Commercial construction costs hinge on two primary categories: materials and skilled labor. Therefore, when both are in short supply and more expensive, already small profit margins contract even further. To counteract rising costs, many CRE firms simply raise their prices—which could further negatively affect the industry. First, there was Covid-19. Then came widespread labor shortages. Supply chain collapses saw rising commercial construction costs dig into profit margins worldwide. And now—to top it all off—there’s inflation. Rising steel prices, peaking at nearly $2,000/ton have affected...

A Culture for Success Built by four generations of cheesemakers, this family-owned cheese company is undoubtedly a master of its craft. Their award-winning cheese continues to draw even greater demand—and to help fill it, our financial solutions deliver on a special recipe of its own. “We feel very fortunate to have them as a partner. They’re local and their services are top-notch and can compete with any bank—that makes it a really good relationship.” —Co-Owner, Cheese Company “Our relationship with our bank started back in the ’80s, and through the years they’ve continued to provide the...

While we may not have a magic wand to reveal the future, we have the next best thing! View our 2021 Mid-Year Economic Update webinar to catch a glimpse of how your business may be impacted by possible market and industry trends. Leading economist, Anirban Basu, Chairman and CEO of Sage Policy Group, Inc., delivers an insightful, entertaining “Chamber of Data” themed presentation that pays a subtle homage to the Harry Potter series. Don’t worry, we didn’t let the sorcery get out of hand. During this webinar, Basu delivered economic data and an analysis juxtaposing the pre-pandemic and pandemic...

The farm labor shortage, soaring fertilizer prices, and increasing inflation can easily put a damper on what otherwise should be a favorable time for agriculture. While the effects of these price fluctuations can be mitigated, doing so requires careful planning and preparation. The farming industry—like every industry—has had to grapple with significant (and in some cases systemic) changes over the past few years in the way it conducts business. Demand for row crops, fresh produce, and nuts and berries has stayed robust. But the lingering after-effects of Covid-19 persist, causing supply chain...

This lumber company is a 115-year-old family-owned company with 24 locations across three states serving everyone from large-scale contractors to DIY homeowners. This company needed more than what most banks can provide. “They’re good people who want to help us grow our business, and we appreciate that.” - President and CEO, Lumber Company President and CEO, “In our industry, payment terms are tight and margins are tighter—maintaining healthy cash flow can be a challenge. We knew solutions to our problems existed, and our bank was able to offer them”. After taking the time to develop a deep...