As a community bank. GRB is proud to offer a wide range of products and services developed to meet the needs of its customers in Central and Western New York. A particular specialty of the bank, niche lending for dental and veterinary practices was recently recognized in Independent Banker Magazine, a publication of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA).
Developing the Expertise
Genesee Regional Bank Vice President, Professional Practice Team Lead Dave Cushman sat for an extensive interview with the publication. He provided insight into GRB’s journey into the Professional Practice niche and offered general tips for setting up a specialty practice area. GRB now serves more than 130 customers in its Professional Practice group and receives the majority of its leads as referrals.
“Creating a niche lending specialty isn’t an easy task for community banks. It is definitely a long-term strategy. You need to pull together a lot of resources and you have to have a significant commitment from executive leadership ,” said Cushman. “We’ve always had that at GRB. Our leadership team invested in the research, product development, personnel, and marketing resources needed for Professional Practice to be successful.”
Leadership and Commitment
“Our Professional Practice Banking team is tied in to the community and dedicated to supporting the dental and veterinary professionals who serve this region. That commitment aligns with our position as a community bank,” said GRB President and CEO Philip Pecora.
“We still see significant competition from larger national lenders,” said Cushman. “But GRB’s combination of competitive rates, flexible terms, and superior service gives professional practices the resources they need whether they are starting out, growing, or preparing to sell. They trust that we know how to help them every step of the way.”
Dave Cushman, Vice President, Professional Practice Team Lead
Read the article on page 50 in Independent Banker magazine.