I am a huge fan of dealing with a local bank. The VP that I deal with knows me by name and its absolutely nothing for him to call me up and just BS. Then again, we have done eight digits of work together over a couple of decades.

We know, like, and trusted one another. Where the money might not have always been the cheapest around, there was absolute value in knowing that 98% of the time, the loan package you created would be approved..

Then my banker - Dave, turned 71 and decided it was time to retire. I was assigned a new banking rep. A young 30 something with lots of energy and as smart as a whip. But he didn't know me.....and if you don't know, like and trust them - suddenly that super lubricated wheel, it begins to squeak.

Sorta strange how you can get a false sense of security from a bank. The good news is I am down to six figures of business with these bank.

Maybe its time I look elsewhere

I look for the bank with the best online system. Because I'm not going to that bank personally, and the local branch is a peon in the system anyway.

I'm no longer, and haven't been a fan of larger banks. But the smaller banks can be very limited on their resources.

Citibank wanted all of my real estate business. I agreed to give them a try and opened a few accounts. Then I was short 1031 funds to buy a 2M+ dollar shopping center and wanted to borrow 500K. Over night they changed their lending terms for commercial property. Loans had to be at least 1M bucks. This was back in 2007 or 2008. So I said that would be no problem, I'd be putting just over 50% down, but needed to close the deal in less than 60 days to qualify for my 1031 exchange tax status. They weren't sure they could pull this off since I was a new customer. New my As_, I had been banking with them for my Trust, retirement and some personal accounts for several years. I was even given a Personal Banker and an Investment Advisor. I had 3 times the money I wanted to borrow in my various non-real estate accounts.

I could not relay on them so I took most of my other business to other banks. They weren't any much better.

The only thing constant is change.

Back when I had a j j j job selling to school superintendents, purchasing agents, and principals we salespeople would always share where our customers were moving. The objective was to get in there first to meet the new customer and establish a relationship before the competition.

Also, never reply on one source.

Ray, our world is changing!

At least 20 years ago we got a HELOC and two business LOC from a local credit union that was expanding. They used to have usfill out a form every year probably to be sure we were still solid. One year they even sent someone to go through each property. That was a great year as thetenants we had at the time were minimalists and great decorators. We had also cleaned and painted our basement that year. I took her to lunch and thanked her for coming. She put in her report that you couldeat off the basement floors of our buildings. We haven't had to submit any forms or had any visits since that one about 15 years ago.

So far, I love my credit union I've done (almost) everything with it for about 35 or so years.

Except they don't participle with Zelle, so I now have an account at another credit union.

This has happened with a realtor, too. I've done several deals with her over the last few years. She's expanded her business & has other agents working for her & stared sending me to them when I called to see a house listed for sale. Not loyal to me like I was to her. They are generally incompetent & slow - because they are new. If you can"t get an offer in within a few hours, you miss the deal. So now she is cut out and I will go straight to the listing agent.

Gotta be ready to adapt, expect pro relationships, like contractors, to have an expiration date. : ( Oh, well!

I have been with my credit union long before I got into RE.

Used to be that I could call the branch manager at the main office and say I need money. His reply was always how much. He retired years ago.

I still run all my day to day stuff thru them, but getting loans is harder and more expensive than going with a big bank now.

I went in last year to local branch that I do a fair amount of business with. The tellers all pretty much know me by sight. Went in to talk to the loan officer about getting a small signature loan. Started out by introducing myself. She is at her terminal. She never typed in my name. Couldn't tell me what the current rates for housing or signature loans were. I asked if she didn't have clearance since her computer was in between us. Nothing.

As I walked out of her office towards the door a teller yelled out a goodbye to me. Yet I was ignored for a small, short term loan of which I had the cash in either of my two accounts.

I miss the good old days of calling the branch manager to get what I needed.

.........Oh,...but for the good old days.

True, there were fewer zeros on the loan amounts, but indeed the branch manager knew their customers, and their businesses. The branch manager had the authority to approve and fund their customers money needs, pretty much instantly.

Pick up the phone,....hi bob,...the money will be in your account tomorrow morning,.....stop by later this week and sign the paperwork,....if I'm not here,...Sally will have it for you.

We saw each other at Church, our kids played ball together,...that manager was at that branch for their career,....that was their branch,...their bank,...their customers,..their community.

When banker bob needed a new lawn mower, he called hardware Harry,....who dropped it off at bob's house.

Assembled , gassed up and with the gas can,...full..

Banker bob didn't get the mower for free,....he paid fair market value for it.

It was just easier and more friendly back then.

People could actually do business in a more casual friendly manner back then.

AND actually get things done,........with a smile.