Expectations for the future of the economy were for slower growth over the next six months due to uncertainty around the upcoming election, domestic policy, geopolitical conflict and inflation. As your local bank, we look forward to providing insight and helping decision makers manage their...

Gone are the days when shoppers would buy a product based solely on appearance, practicality, or price. While these factors still matter, more and more are driven by purpose, with 82% of U.S. consumers preferring to support brands that reflect their personal values and beliefs. This embrace of...

Given the rising concerns over inflation, dwindling personal savings, and perceived instability in the job market, recent surveys have found that consumers plan to reduce their spending on nonessential goods and services. This shift in consumer behavior necessitates that retailers reevaluate their...

Driven by supply chain disruptions and the meteoric rise of e-commerce, the warehousing and wholesale business landscape has undergone a rapid transformation in recent years. In this era of unprecedented challenges, business owners face a pivotal decision: invest in expanding physical infrastructure...

As 2024 continues on, many business leaders are looking for ways to remain resilient due to economic uncertainties. According to recent SAS data, 97% of executives view resiliency as an important factor—and 87% are confident about increasing resiliency in their companies in the future. Part of their...

The potentially transformative capabilities of advanced AI, automation, and robotics technology are ushering in a new era for manufacturing. Yet, at the same time, extracting value from the digital transformation is more complicated than it might seem. Case in point—an overwhelming 88% of companies...

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve witnessed a revitalization in American industrial policy. The economic ripples of the pandemic highlighted the precarious nature of long-spread supply chains and outsourced labor; now having internalized these lessons, many firms are re- or nearshoring their...

Streamlining payments involves refining the management of money flowing in and out of your business. It could include reassessing your payment strategy or even upgrading your treasury management solutions. When done effectively, optimizing your payment processes may improve customer experiences...

Manufacturing technology is quickly elevating through notable advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) devices and services. For manufacturers, the coming year may be indelibly marked by the futuristic changes these advanced technologies bring. Yet the question for...

Going green has the potential to be a wise business decision for the manufacturing industry. In fact, it seems many manufacturers are making the jump to more sustainable processes and business operations. Traditional manufacturing processes are based on a linear model of consumption—that is, finite...

The fragility of global supply chains was glaringly apparent after the COVID-19 pandemic ground everything to a halt. Inadequate supply chain capacity planning caused sweeping shortages of essential goods for consumers and manufacturers alike—some of which may still stand today. Just-in-time...

Anybody can make money in a thriving economy—but can they maintain profits during an economic downturn? As a small business owner, worries of an economic downturn might keep you up at night. Do you have enough cash on hand to cover your bills? Will next quarter’s product launch fall short of...