When Mary and Rick Schaut, owners of FuzzyButz Pet Bakery & Boutique in downtown St. Joseph, wanted to switch the store’s credit card merchant services, they were overwhelmed by all of the choices. So, they asked St. Joseph Today’s board member Rick Dyer, Edgewater Bank’s President and CEO, for his advice. He told them what service the bank used and why. The Schauts were so happy with his recommendation, they moved their business checking to Edgewater Bank as well. “The different banks we’ve done business with over the years have all had a few good people working for them,” said Mary. “But at Edgewater everyone is fantastic. They genuinely care about you and your business.”
Rick Dyer says caring about local businesses and their success is natural for Edgewater Bank. “We are a community bank. Our headquarters are here and we have been part of this area for more than 100 years.”
Since it is based in Southwest Michigan, Dyer says Edgewater Bank stands out from other financial institutions in the area by making all of its commercial loan decisions right here. The bank determines its answers not only from the numbers on the loan application, but from its officers’ knowledge of the applicant and the local business climate. Larger corporate banks with headquarters miles away rarely can take Edgewater Bank’s holistic and personal approach. “We are a real local bank with real local people who want to positively impact the communities where we live and work,” said Dyer.
Edgewater Bank is experienced in making business success happen. Assistant Vice Presidents Jeff Hannan and Tim Dyer are adept at helping businesses identify and apply for the best loan to meet their needs. The bank offers traditional business loans and commercial real estate loans. It also has SBA and specialized lending for agriculture, municipalities, school districts, churches and non-profit organizations. The bank’s terms and rates are designed to fit the various life cycles and seasonal needs of the businesses here. “The money these companies borrow is local money that stays local,” said Tim Dyer. “It’s money the bank reinvests in the community, not just in businesses but in charitable fundraisers and local events that people care about.”
Hannan, who recently joined Edgewater, brings more than a quarter-century of experience, much of it in business development. He knows what it takes for entrepreneurs to pursue a dream or established companies to face new financial opportunities or challenges. His knowledge of community resources can help them cut through red tape, avoid roadblocks and set their businesses on track for financial success. “Not all of the businesses that approach us are ready for the next steps that a loan could afford them,” said Hannan. “We listen to their needs, talk about their goals and – if the timing for being approved for a loan isn’t right – we offer them the advice and a business relationship that can make them a stronger applicant in the future.”
For most startups and established businesses in Southwest Michigan, having a relationship with a real local bank makes managing their finances easier and less stressful. “Many of the businesses in Southwest Michigan, like FuzzyButz, operate with lean staffs. Owners like the Schauts make most of the decisions and their time is in short supply,” said Edgewater Bank’s Senior Vice President Maria Kibler. “They can’t always handle their banking during traditional banking hours. So Edgewater Bank is available when our business customers need us.”
Kibler points out that the bank offers a plethora of online banking services that are available 24/7. Those services range from being able to check account balances and safely transferring money between accounts to arranging automatic recurring transfers, bill paying or loan payments. The bank can handle payroll processing, direct deposit, ACH origination and wire transfers as well. “Our business customers especially appreciate our mobile banking services that allow them to do almost all of their banking, including mobile deposits, without adding a trip to the bank to their day.”
But Kibler says what really impresses the bank’s business clientele is the availability of their banking officers. “We give them our cell phone numbers so they can call or text us when banking questions or issues arise that can’t wait until the bank opens. Our officers respond or find someone else from the bank that can get them the answer or solution they need in the short term.”
Jim Champion, owner of RyeBelles Restaurant & Bar in St. Joseph, said there’s another way that choosing a real local bank pays off in his business’s success. He’s grateful that Edgewater Bank provided the commercial loan dollars his restaurant needed to boost its growth, but what he really appreciates is that the bank officers, employees and their families eat locally … at RyeBelles.
