Take a Personal Approach to Business Banking

Banking for business goes well beyond cash management. Ultimately, it comes down to finding the right partner who’s ready to learn your business inside and out—and find the right ways to help you reach your goals. 

We sat down with Jamison Flora, Senior Vice President of Business Banking at Community Bank, to learn about his approach to business banking and what his community means to him.

Q: What does an average day look like in your role at Community Bank?

A: I manage our business banking division, which includes our customer-facing lenders, our business banking credit team, and the internal operations team. There are a lot of moving parts, so I make sure we’re seeing the full picture and the team is working in lockstep to best serve our customers. We don’t just react to a loan application; we take a more consultative approach, leaning on our four connected companies when our customers’ needs go beyond commercial lending.

Q: How do you work with customers to ensure their needs are met?

A: I want our people to be the bankers you call when you’re thinking about your next move and want our advice. Sure, we can process a loan, but is that the right move for you? Could your business benefit from a different approach? This is the thinking and attention we bring to every one of our relationships: Whatever we can do to help them is what we want to do.

Q: How important is customization in commercial banking?

A: Very important, and it all depends on the industry and size of the company. That’s why we train our business bankers to bring our Community Financial System, Inc. (CFSI) partners into the conversation when necessary. For example, we have our partners at OneGroup, which is a phenomenal insurance team, and we’ll bring them in when we feel our customers need them. 

Personally, I love to ask “What’s your goal?” Once we figure that out, we’re able to work toward something together. Managing cash flow? Our treasury management experts can recommend tools and services based on the unique input and output of your business. Thinking about succession planning? Are you transitioning to your kids? Are you looking to sell? The answers to these questions are important. That’s where the customization comes into play.

Q: Why should businesses work with you?

A: For starters, this bank has a strong commitment to this region and the Northeast as a whole. We’ve proven we have staying power and are using it to help the region realize the opportunities it has to grow.

But really, it comes down to our people. I know it sounds cheesy, but it’s true. Our team is there for each other and for our customers alike. Since there are no silos among our teams, we’re able to go all in on serving our customers. And whatever benefits them will benefit the team. It’s just a great supportive culture.

Q: What advice do you have for commercial businesses looking to grow or rethink their finances?

A: Find the right partner for you, one who asks the right questions and is fully committed to your success. Let me put it another way: Choose a banker, not a bank.

Looking for a banking partner? Get in touch today.