[Dantilla]

As a self-employed guy with accounts at a couple of different banks to keep things straight, the general rule I have found is that big banks have too much bureaucracy (as does the government), and nobody at the local branch has any decision making authority.

My favorite little bank was bought by Washington Mutual several years ago, and things got difficult to the point of me leaving them for another local bank.

I have a credit line to buy & sell real estate with terms no big bank would touch. They know me by name.

I recently bought an old warehouse, and talked to another local "little" bank. The founder and president of the bank invited me back to his office, and within a few minutes, offered me terms better than I could have imagined. On the spot. None of that "I'll bring this up to the comitee next Thursday, and we'll have an answer in a few weeks" stuff.

Another commercial thing I'm involved with is with another "little" local bank. I submitted financial information on Tuesday, and he called me Wednesday afternoon, and told me we are approved, and he is writing up the commitment letter.

All of the people at Washington Mutual were professional and friendly, but too often the answer started with "I'm sorry, but..." we need, we can't, we're not allowed, I've been told, etc.

A relationship with a decision maker is a good thing.