1. Union First Market Bank Jim Tyler, Commercial Division

2. Are banks still lending money?

3. Bankers are NOT venture capitalists.

4. They need more than a good idea.

5. What industries give banks the most concern?

6. What banks look for:

7. Why did you pick this indu s try?

8. What banks look for: Do you have experience in this industry?

9. What banks look for: Have you run a business before?

10. What banks look for: Who are you suppliers? Will they give you terms?

11. What banks look for: Who are your customers?

12. What banks look for: Who are your competitors?

13. What banks look for: What is your personal financial position?

14. What banks look for: How much money do you need?

15. What banks look for: Why do you need that much money?

16. What banks look for: Why do you need that much money? (“Working Capital” is not enough of an answer.)

17. What banks look for: How much money are you putting into this new business?

18. What banks look for: How will you pay the bank back?

19. What banks look for: Do you have any collateral? (Business assets supported by “outside” assets.)

20. What banks look for: Do you need a guarantor or cosigner?

21. A good business plan and financial forecast addresses all these questions.

22. Any banker or lender needs the answers in order to loan you money or invest in your business