Commercial banking is a changing landscape of which you need to stay on top of to remain competitive. US commercial banks are intricately involved in the global marketplace that is in constant flux. Whether you are a lender or a commercial banking services executive, you need to keep a close watch on both the regulatory changes, fluctuating interest rates and viability of certain markets. Good information about commercial banks is vital to your business success.

Information on commercial banks is available at certain times and you have to be ready to take advantage of opportunities in the commercial financial markets when they arise. By reading industry newsletters and online publications, as well as blogs and other industry communications, you can stay on the alert for information about commercial banking changes. Protect your company in a number of ways by keeping up with commercial banks news and trends.

1. Participate in merchant banking blogs and newsfeeds

2. Read about information about commercial banking in industry publications

3. Follow commercial banking info though trade associations

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Take part in commercial bank blogs

Whenever you have the opportunity to chat online with other banking professionals, take the chance to get an insiders track on the latest news and trends. Often, you can sort through the gossip and find gems that will assist you in your corporate banking services business.

I recommend: Keep up with the news and trends in the financial banking sector through Banking Strategies, the publication of the Bank Administration Institute. The Bankers Association for Finance and Trade can be a good place to keep up with the news and trends affecting the industry.

Subscribe to corporate banking services publications

At the trade groups in which you participate, you should take responsibility for educating yourself and keeping up with the industry. By reading the industry publications, you can stay on top of the emerging trends affecting the banking industry.

I recommend: Get involved with your local commercial banking community and keep up with news both regionally and globally through the Independent Community Bankers of America. The Consumer Bankers Association is another great place to get regular updates on the changing commercial banking landscape.

Keep the lines of information open with corporate banking services websites

Stay tuned in to the latest news and trends that you'll find on the websites of US commercial banks and through the advice columns that are often part of the commercial banking websites. Spend time talking with your peers at trade shows and conferences to add to your sources of news and trends.

I recommend: Bank News is the place to go for up to date news and updates that affect the industry. Stay on top of the technology issues facing the commercial banking industry at Bank Technology News.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Encourage your staff to subscribe to a corporate banking services publication and to share the information they gather with the entire staff.

Choosing a commercial bank is a crucial step to make early in your business's life cycle. Often, the first transaction between businesses and commercial banks involves significant loans, so investigating financial institutions' lending practices is a must.

To secure a loan from US commercial banks, small businesses must submit an application and a business plan. Before banking on you, a financial institution needs to understand your personal credit history and your business' objectives, viability and potential for success.

Although commercial banks make potentially life-changing decisions about your business, they don't hold all the cards. The goal is to build a positive relationship. Gather information on commercial banks to make sure their practices, culture, interest rates and services meet your business needs.

When comparing commercial banking institutions, pay particular attention to:

1. Your financial needs. Assess current needs and project future needs to find a good banking partner.
2. Lending history. Some commercial banks are more likely to lend to certain business types.
3. Banking culture. Avoid institutions with high turnover or poor customer service.
4. Available services and associated fees. Make sure a bank can meet your needs at a price you can afford.

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Focus on commercial banks that fit your business needs

Not all US commercial banks are a good fit for every small business. You must find a bank that meets your lending needs, offers the services you desire and the quality of customer service you deserve. Doing some legwork on the front end can save you from entering a suboptimal relationship.

I recommend: Business Finance provides a commercial banking matching service to businesses who enter lending requirements online. The Small Business Times features a guide to US commercial banks, including information on their lending specialties, available loan types and overall strengths. ING DIRECT offers good rates on business savings accounts.

Find a commercial banking partner with technological savvy

Although financial institutions are old school compared to most other industry, the banking world is responding to the technological revolution. To save time, hassle and mounds of paper, choose a bank that offers web-based solutions to small business clients.

I recommend: Wells Fargo offers a number of online banking services to business customers, including bill payment, statement review and tax services. Bank of America also offers several online small business solutions for merchant reporting, payroll and invoicing. Wachovia and Affinity Bank both have similar online services for small businesses.

Examine ratings of commercial banks

Banks spend a lot of time and money conducting research about your personal and business financial history before providing some services, they deserve the same scrutiny. Get information about commercial banks' operations, financial strength and customer service quality before making a decision.

I recommend: AMBest provides numerical bank ratings, with advanced search features to narrow down commercial banks according to business needs. Bankrate.com rates banks on a five-point system, using information about commercial banks' overall performance and health.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Seek advice from your legal counsel and financial advisers when making commercial banking decisions.

Commercial banking as a career is a winning proposition if you come to the banking employment table with the right credentials. While entry-level banking jobs are prolific, the better paying jobs in US commercial banks require financial knowledge that only comes from training and experience. To pursue a career in corporate banking services you should accumulate as many certificates and degrees as you can. Merchant banking industry jobs will continue to flourish for those who bring a multitude of skills to the job.

Look for information about commercial banks through online commercial bank websites and schools and through contacts and connections you can make in the industry. Commercial banking solutions can be helpful for those who already have an inside to the industry. Use all the tools available to you to find the best careers in commercial banking in the US. There are a number of avenues you should pursue as you continually upgrade your training for commercial banks.

1. Peruse online training sites for information on commercial banks

2. Find training for commercial banks through trade groups

3. Enlist the help of corporate banking services experts

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Watch for commercial bank training online

Take the time to regularly watch for commercial banking info, as you look for opportunities online to advance your career in the commercial banking services. You'll find a number of online financial training programs that will be most helpful in your search for employment and advancement in commercial banking solutions. Check out the requirements and look for training to make you more suitable for the position you seek.

I recommend: Find a slew of training opportunities at the Bankers Academy. The Center for Financial Training holds classes all over the country for those new to the industry and as professional development opportunities.

Look for corporate banking services training through associations

While you are pursuing a career in the banking industry you should also be accruing a list of connections that will help you throughout your career. Trade associations are great places to get involved with more senior level bankers and make those important contacts. At the same time, most associations offer a wide variety of professional development courses that will look good on your resume.

I recommend: Get diplomas for certificate programs as well as make important contacts at the American Bankers Association. Get special training for commercial banking at the Financial Managers Society.

Enroll with merchant banking schools

Find training and get certified to sell various financial products that are used by the commercial banking businesses in your community. Through your course, look for experts who can serve as mentors and advisers to point you in the right direction for additional training.

I recommend: Reduce your costs and learn at your own pace through Web-based classes at Quest Compliance Education. The Bank Training Center provides students with a wide variety of training courses that you can use to advance your career.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Whenever you receive another certificate or complete a commercial bank course, add it to your resume.

Commercial banks provide many services to individuals and businesses. In addition to being a secure place to hold your funds, banks offer lending services in the form of personal loans or business loans. Often those personal loans are mortgages, and many banks hold mortgage-backed securities as assets. Commercial banks also offer investment services like certificates of deposit or mutual funds. Here are some key terms to help you brush up on the world of commercial banks.

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Mortgage-backed security

A mortgage-backed security is a fixed income security that pays a monthly interest payment. The monthly interest payments are made up of thousands of different mortgages from across the country. Banks will often hold mortgage-backed securities as an asset in order to earn monthly interest income.

I recommend: Check out this description of a mortgage-backed security from Contingency Analysis.

Reserve requirement

The reserve requirement is the minimum amount of money a commercial bank must hold in a special account in order to meet customers' withdrawal needs on a day-to-day basis. If checking deposits are high, then the bank's dollar reserve requirement is also high. The reserve requirement is designed to minimize the likelihood of a run on a bank, which occurs when the bank doesn't have enough cash to satisfy its customers' demands.

I recommend: Auburn University has a definition of the reserve requirement.

Federal funds lending

An important function of banks is interbank lending, called Federal funds lending. If a bank's reserves fall below the minimum required level, then the bank needs to find some cash to increase its reserve account. The main source of that cash is Federal funds lending from another commercial bank.

I recommend: The Federal Reserve Bank of New York has a very detailed description of Federal funds lending.

Small business loan

A small business loan is money lent by the bank for the purpose of starting or expanding a business. Such loans are directed towards businesses that need ten million dollars or less of financing. A sum higher than that amount would be outside the service provided by a commercial bank. Many businesses use these loans to buy the equipment and inventory required to start the business and these assets form the collateral for the loan.

I recommend: Express Funding Group provides a definition of a small business loan, including a discussion of how to qualify for one.

Certificate of deposit (CD)

A certificate of deposit (CD) is a promissory note that pays a small amount of interest and matures in less than one year. They are considered to be very low risk, which is why the interest paid is so low. Individuals can purchase certificates of deposit through a commercial bank as a form of low-risk investing.

I recommend: Investopedia offers a definition of certificates of deposit.

Mutual fund

A mutual fund is essentially a pool of money drawn from many thousands of private people that invests the pool of money in various financial securities. Commercial banks may run their own mutual fund, or they might be able to help you buy shares in mutual funds.

I recommend: Investorwords.com has a comprehensive explanation of mutual funds.