Starting Your Career As A Musician

Finding the right bank involves many factors, and one of the first questions on your

mind will be, “Should I use a large, national or regional bank or a small, local one?” If
easy access to ATMs and branch locations are important to you, a large bank may be the
right choice. They typically have numerous branch offices in a city or town and are mem-

bers of common ATM networks. That can mean you’ll save money on ATM fees. This can
be important if you tour often. But, individual service may suffer and they may not focus
on small and micro businesses, such as a solo artist or band.
Smaller banks are often better at customer service and small businesses may be a

large part of their customer base. But they probably don’t offer as many locations, and
you may find yourself paying ATM fees on a regular basis. Smaller banks might not offer
the breadth of services that their larger cousins can. Virtually all banks offer online ser-

vices. If you find one that doesn’t, you might want to look elsewhere. When it comes to
lending, large banks often have many layers in the review process. That means getting a
yes or no will take more time. Smaller banks tend to be more nimble in their review
process.
Beyond your checking account, there are several things a business banker can do to
help your business, so building a quality relationship with them can be important. But it
can also be tricky. Unlike your attorney, who makes money by keeping you safe, or your
accountant, who makes money by saving you some, bankers are largely profit-driven
through lending and selling products and services. As such, they want you to be success-

ful, so you’ll use more of their services and obtain loans and other forms of credit.

A good banker has seen many businesses come and go. They’ve learned what works

and what doesn’t work. That experience can be a great value to you. If you’re lucky and