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How A Community Bank Adds Value to Your Small Business

Woman working on finances

Running a small business is extremely difficult. Time management is one of the biggest challenges small business owners face, according to a survey by Guidant Financial. You’re handling technology, customer service, hiring and more, and it gets to be a lot. One way to lighten your load is to find a commercial banking partner who truly cares about your business success. A community bank in South Carolina can help partner with you and make managing your business’ financials a seamless, efficient process.

Here are a few commercial banking products that can truly add value to your business:

Business Checking and Savings

It’s easy to assume that a checking account is just a checking account. Business checking accounts are designed to handle the frequent transactions you need along with simple account management. For example, Arthur State Bank offers low account minimums and low fees along with online cash management. With a few clicks, you can learn exactly what’s going on with your business. It’s easy and efficient. You can also activate Ready Reserve, which ensures you’re not caught without funds when you need it.

Business Lending

business lending

Getting the funding you need to expand your business can be stressful. Business loans can help you fund small projects such as getting new office furniture or big projects, like expanding and opening a new location. Business lending offers reasonable interest rates and the capital you need when you need it.

Business Credit Cards

Business credit cards offer flexible payment options, which is critical when it comes to managing your cash flow and paying for the unexpected. They offer reasonable interest rates, low annual fees, and some even offer rewards. A business credit card may not always be the best funding option, but they come in handy when you’re in a tight spot.

Remote Deposit

Remote deposit

At the end of a long day, the last thing you want to do is run to the bank. You can simplify your business life with remote deposit capture, which allows you to deposit checks from where you are. Remote deposit capture is a web-based solution that allows you to scan checks remotely and transmit the images to your bank. Often, your bank will provide a check scanner when you opt-in for this service. You can make deposits anytime with less risk to your business. It’s a win-win for everyone.

Online Banking and Cash Management

A good, business-oriented online cash management system allows you to handle essential business transactions with just a few clicks. You can easily:

  • View account balances
  • Transfer funds
  • Make loan payments
  • Submit payroll
  • Debit customer accounts
  • Set up ACH transactions

You can add users to your account, so you aren’t the only person handling your business’ financials, but you can also specify the level of access each user has. Your customers expect the best, and a business-friendly community bank in South Carolina can ensure you have every tool available to receive payments from customers, pay vendors, and handle your other business transactions.

ACH Transactions

ACH transactions

Automated Clearing House (ACH) transactions can simplify your vendor and employee payments. ACH is one of the largest electronic transaction networks in the U.S., and they successfully process large volumes of payments every day. You can avoid the tedious process of manually handling paper checks and waiting to see if they clear or not; just process everything electronically. You can easily track the payments online and have an up-to-date picture of your business’ finances at any given moment.

Safe Deposit Boxes

Safe deposit boxes offer a secure way to store critical business documents, such as your insurance paperwork. Off-site storage keeps your valuables safe in case of a fire or another disaster. Banks offer a wide variety of sizes for a reasonable fee, and you can access your safe deposit box privately.

Stellar Customer Service

Stellar customer service

Although it’s intangible, good banking customer service is critical to your business. When you need help with your business finances, you can’t afford to wait or explain your situation over and over to a series of customer representatives.

As a community bank, Arthur State Bank offers outstanding customer service. We value our customers, and we strive to learn the needs and priorities of your business so we can help you determine the right products for your business and what you need to grow. At Arthur State Bank, you are more than just a number, you are our neighbor.

At Arthur State Bank, we see ourselves as partners in your business. Contact us today to learn more about our business banking products and services.

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AnnualCreditReport.com is the only source for free credit reports authorized by the federal government. Every 12 months, you can get a free copy of your credit report from each agency.

Your credit report has your credit history for all of your credit accounts as well as any credit inquiries and public record court information such as collections. In addition, the report provides personally identifiable information such as your name, address, and employment.

Be sure to carefully review all three reports to identify any problem areas that you may need to clean up prior to applying for a mortgage. If there is any incorrect information, follow the reporting agency’s rules to correct it or add a notation to the report to explain the situation.

Your FICO Score is a score combines data from several areas include payment history, the amount owed, length of credit history, new accounts. Many lenders use this score as a guide. This score is not provided as part of the free annual credit report.

Learn more about how your credit score impacts your ability to secure a loan.

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Couple looking over finances

Primary considerations for setting your housing budget require an assessment of your income, debt and current savings for the down payment on the home. The following are generally recommended guidelines; however, you should meet with an Arthur State Bank lender to get personalized mortgage information.

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Couple meeting with lender

The pre-qualification/pre-approval letter is included with any offer you make on a house to inform the seller that you have met with a mortgage lender and you are prepared to make an offer. The letter states that based on certain assumptions, the bank is prepared to lend you up to a specified amount of money for a home mortgage.

When choosing a loan officer, we recommend going local to work with someone who understands your community’s real estate market. This blog on first-time home purchases includes questions to ask your lender that may be helpful when preparing for your meeting.

Helpful Resources:

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Realtor shaking hands with a client

When a house is sold, the seller typically pays real estate commission to both the listing agent and the selling agent. It is extremely beneficial for the buyer to use their own real estate agent. Loan officers can often recommend selling agents in the area; ask your officer about realtor referrals when discussing your loan.

A good realtor will know the local market and can help you find an ideal home based on your budget, location and desired features. During your search, understand that you will most likely need to compromise on some items, so it’s important to identify your critical needs versus your wants.

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Couple searching online for a home

Additionally, when you start with the house search and work backwards, homes can often go off the market while you’re completing steps 1-4. While browsing homes immediately can be tempting, we recommend following these steps in order so that, once you find your dream home, you’ll be well-positioned to take action immediately.

When you find the home you want and you think you are ready to put an offer on it, you will want to make sure you have all the information you need to make a solid offer.

  • Evaluate the neighborhood.
  • Drive by the house at different times of the day.
  • Examine how other houses in the neighborhood are maintained.
  • Consider any potential traffic or other disruptive noise.
  • Is there ample parking for you and visitors?
  • Read the details in any Homeowner Association agreements (HOA fees and rules).

Make sure to do a preliminary check of house details:

  • Check the water:
  • Does it have good pressure?
  • How long does it take to get the water hot?
  • Is it well water or city water?
  • Turn light switches on and off.
  • Open and close doors and windows to make sure they work properly.
  • Review previous utility bill expenses.
  • Consider the property tax bill.

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Family meeting with realtor at new house

When writing an offer contract, be sure to pay attention to all of the details.

Offer Price:

Your agent should do a market analysis that pulls data on recently sold comparable houses. The best comparisons will come from the same neighborhood.

If you are asking for the seller to pay some of the closing costs, remember that this cost plus the sales commission determines the net amount you are offering the seller for the house.

Work with your agent on your negotiation strategy. There are many things to consider, such as how badly you want this particular house, whether it is a buyer’s or seller’s market and an assessment of the seller’s motivation to get the property sold.

There isn’t one best strategy.

Be sure to document in writing everything you want included with the house, such as appliances, etc. Your agent should guide you through the contract step-by-step.

Contingencies:

  • Home inspection.
  • Mortgage.
  • Final walk through (24 hours prior to closing).

Proposed closing date. Typically, this is 30-45 days from an accepted offer.

A good-faith deposit is required for the offer. This is typically between 1-10% of the purchase price of the house. The deposit is kept in escrow until closing and the money is applied to the purchase price of the house at closing. If the house does not close due to one of the contingency clauses, the buyer receives their money back. However, if the buyer decides not to close on the property, the seller may get the deposit money.

Attach your pre-approval letter to the offer.

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Two people in professional meeting

The clock starts ticking for everything documented in the contract, including mortgage application, inspections and closing date.

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Woman advising other woman on mortgage application

You will need to decide which mortgage to select prior to the application.

Plan for the following potential fees:

  • Application fee (many banks and mortgage companies charge an application fee; however, there is not an application fee at Arthur State Bank).
  • Credit check.
  • Appraisal (may be paid at closing).
  • Loan origination fee (paid at closing).

Once you have approval for your loan, make sure you don’t change anything that will impact the status of your mortgage. Banks do a final check on credit and jobs just prior to closing, so now is not the time to change jobs or make another purchase on credit such as a car or furniture.

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Home inspector going over findings with home owner

Depending on the size of the house, an inspection can cost on average between $300 to $1000.

Many real estate contracts specify how problems uncovered in the inspection will be resolved, up to a certain dollar amount. Should necessary repairs exceed that amount, the buyer has the option to cancel the contract without penalty and receive their deposit money back. Another option is for the buyer and seller to renegotiate who will pay for additional repairs.

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Woman happily holding keys to her new home
  • Homeowner’s insurance is required by the lender prior to closing on the loan.
  • Turn on utilities in your name, effective the closing date.
  • Change your address with the U.S. Postal Service.
    • Make moving arrangements.

Three days prior to closing:

  • You should receive your final Closing Disclosure from the closing agency. The final Closing Disclosure shows a column for the seller and a column for the buyer. All closing charges and credits for both the seller and the buyer are documented in the closing statement.
  • Review the closing statement for accuracy prior to coming to closing.
  • The final amount in the buyer’s column shows you the amount of money you need to pay at closing.

The closing office will provide specific payment instructions. Closing funds have become recent targets for cybercriminals. If you are asked to use a wire transfer, call the office and ask to speak to someone you have been working with to double-check the instructions.

Closing day:

In South Carolina, the closing will usually take place at the attorney’s office. Everyone signing for the mortgage must be present to sign the closing paperwork. Make sure you bring the following:

  • Cashier’s check or proof of payment for wire transfer.
  • Driver’s license.
  • Checkbook, just in case there are any additional items that were not on the closing statement.

Be sure to understand this information:

  • How and when you will pay:
  • Your mortgage.
  • Your property taxes.
  • Your homeowner’s insurance.
  • Any HOA dues.
  • Who to call with any questions.

The best practice is to go through the homebuyer’s roadmap in this sequence. However, if you jumped ahead early in your journey, just circle back to address the steps you missed.

Arthur State Bank’s loan officers are closely tapped into local real estate markets and experts at helping clients get what they need on terms that work for them. We also offer mortgage specials for first-time homebuyers.

To start planning your journey to your dream home, try out our mortgage calculator. If you’re ready to talk to a loan officer, contact Arthur State Bank to request personalized mortgage information today. Don’t forget to ask about our first-time homebuyer offer.

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