Banking / Loans

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Small Business Banking and Loans

Does your business need to manage cash effectively? If so, it is important that you know what the best business banking services are -- and where to find them. We'll cover everything from opening a business banking account to complex business banking transactions. We'll even cover small business loans.
ACH Processing Basics
ACH processing allows businesses to collect payments from customers electronically. Businesses can save money and reduce errors, as well as automate payments and follow-up on bad checks. Learn the basics of ACH processing.
Remote Deposit
Remote deposit is a way to process payments without sending checks to the bank. With remote deposit, you can scan an image of a check, send the image to your bank, and see the funds added to your account more quickly. Let’s cover the basics of remote deposit capture.
Collateral Loans
A collateral loan is a loan secured by some asset you own. You promise to hand the asset over to the lender if you cannot repay the loan as agreed. By using a collateral loan, the lender takes less risk, and it may be easier for you to get funding. Make sure you know the essentials of collateral loans before you use one.
Bank Reconciliation
Bank reconciliation happens when you compare your records to the bank’s records. You should do a bank reconciliation at least every month to make sure you know what’s happening with your accounts. Let’s review how bank reconciliation works and why it is so important.
Types of Banks
You may hear of different types of banks: investment banks, retail banks, commercial banks, online banks, and others. What do all the words mean? Different types of banks specialize in different lines of business. See the basics on each type of bank.
ING Direct Orange for Business
ING Direct has an online savings account for businesses. This page gives an overview of the ING Direct Orange for Business savings account.
Cashier's Check Fraud - How to Spot Cashier's Check Fraud
Cashier’s check fraud is one of the most popular crimes in the internet age. Once thought to be safe, cashier’s checks now require extra attention from sellers. Make sure you know all the red flags of cashier’s check fraud so you can avoid expensive scams.
Letter of Credit - How Letters of Credit Work
A letter of credit is a promise to pay. Banks issue letters of credit as a way to ensure sellers that they will get paid as long as they do what they've agreed to do. Letters of credit are common in international trade because the bank acts as an uninterested party between buyer and seller.
Lockboxes
Lockboxes allow organization to streamline receipts. When customers and business partners write you a check, you need to get those payments into the bank so that you can use the money. Lockbox services make that process more efficient than almost any business can hope for on its own.
Lockbox Services
Lockboxes allow organization to streamline receipts. When customers and business partners write you a check, you need to get those payments into the bank so that you can use the money. Lockbox services make that process more efficient than almost any business can hope for on its own.
How to Get the Best Small Business Loan Terms
Working with banks on small business loans can be easy or difficult – it just depends on how prepared you are. Follow this formula for obtaining small business loans and you can move on to the more important things.
Start Up Business Loans - How to Find Start Up Business Loans - Additional Resources
Start up business loans are difficult to come by. If you’re not having luck with other sources, let’s dig in and start the process of winning a start up business loan.
5 Reasons Not To Mix Personal & Business Banking
About.com's Small Business guide has the expertise to help you and your business. This article has helpful advice on why you should keep your business banking separate from your personal banking.
What is an Online Bank?
Online banks are banks that you primarily (or exclusively) use on the Internet. They allow you to have more choice and flexibility. You can do things on a computer, and you often get more competitive rates from online banks. Online banks provide services to individuals and businesses.
What is the Central Bank?
A central bank is an organization responsible for managing banking activity. Within the USA the central bank is the Federal Reserve, or 'the Fed'. Other countries have central banks as well. Most consumers do not interact with the central bank. Instead, large financial firms generally work with the central bank in the background.
What is an Investment Bank?
Investment banks help organizations use investment markets. For example, when a company wants to raise money by issuing stocks or bonds, an investment bank helps them through the process. Let's take a look at the basics of investment banks.
What is a Retail Bank?
A retail bank is a bank that works with consumers, otherwise known as 'retail customers'. Retail banks are the banks you most often see in cities on crowded intersections, the ones you probably use for your personal checking account. Let's take a look at the basics of retail banks.
What is a Commercial Bank?
A commercial bank is a bank that works with businesses. Businesses have unique needs that consumers don’t have. For example, some businesses need a commercial bank that can accommodate a large volume of credit card payments and cash deposits. Let's take a look at the basics of commercial banks.
Retail Lockboxes
Retail lockbox services help you process payments efficiently. Retail lockboxes are best for organizations that process a large volume of relatively small payments. While the dollar amounts may be small, the money adds up.
Wholesale Lockboxes
Wholesale lockbox services allow you to streamline receivables. Wholesale lockboxes are best for organizations that process a small volume of payments. Because these payments may be high dollar items, getting the money in your system quickly is essential.
Entreworld.org - Finances
The Kauffman Foundation is actively involved in helping entrepreneurs. Their Financing page is a comprehensive resource that will help you review all the possible ways of financing your business activities.
Business Bank Loans
When a business first starts operation, a business bank loan is often what keeps things moving. How do you get a good business bank loan? It depends on the nature of your business. This page is intended for smaller businesses trying to find funding through business bank loans.
Lockboxes - Treasury Management
Lockboxes are one of the most powerful treasury management tools. If you would like to find out how to get your customer payments faster and with less processing, check out this whitepaper from LaSalle bank. It covers the basic benefits of lockbox services.
Loan Resources From the Small Business Association
Small businesses often need loans to get up and running. The Small Business Association has plenty of resources on the various programs available for U.S. businesses including micro-loans and special purpose loans.

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