A Network of Support: CBA Showcases How America’s Leading Retail Banks Provide for All Their Small Business Client Needs
This Small Business Month and all year long, the Consumer Bankers Association (CBA) is proud of the many ways America’s leading retail banks continue to uplift small businesses across the country. As part of its annual Small Business Spotlight series, CBA is highlighting some of the initiatives, programs, and products from three members - Comerica Bank, Synchrony Financial, and Regions Bank - designed to help their small business clients thrive.
Comerica Bank
For Small Business Week, Comerica Bank launched a new campaign intended to help small business owners knock their goals out of the park with philanthropic funding, special support for small business clients, and testimonials from bankers and clients, alike.
As a part of the “Swinging Big for Small Businesses” campaign, Comerica donated $250,000 to nonprofits across the country that help small businesses thrive – five nonprofit organizations, each receiving a $50,000 check.
"Delivering on our commitment to small businesses in the communities we serve remains vital to strengthening families, supporting neighborhoods and bolstering local economies," said Omar Salah, Comerica Bank Executive Vice President, Small Business Banking Director. "Our community organizations have become valuable and necessary resources for entrepreneurs and small business owners, as they understand the needs of those they assist daily and the barriers that must be overcome to help them open doors to paths of prosperity. National Small Business Week reminds us of the year-round impact and value of our customers, community organizations, and entrepreneurs at-large who passionately believe in a better future through small businesses."
Comerica Bank’s small business perks go beyond standard offerings for small business clients – these include free research and data for entrepreneurs, office supply discounts, and more.
Synchrony’s innovative products and experiences support the growth and operations of some of the country’s most respected brands, as well as more than 400,000 small and midsize businesses and health and wellness providers that Americans rely on. For Small Business Month, Synchrony highlighted two small businesses’ success stories and how they utilize services like autopay and flexible financing to better serve their customers.
Flexible financing from Synchrony helped Merlin Complete Auto Care’s customers manage surprise car repair costs. With the Synchrony Car Care credit card, Merlin customers can break their costs into manageable monthly payments.
Synchrony Financial
“Having the option to finance repairs gives our customers peace of mind and keeps their vehicles safely on the road,” said Muffadal Simba, owner of Merlin Complete Auto Care. “They don’t have to delay repairs or take on high-interest debt elsewhere—they can get what they need now and pay over time.”
“Our customers want to spend time outdoors, not hours at the dealership,” said Jeff Nielsen, Marine Division Manager. “Synchrony makes financing fast, easy, and reliable—so our customers can get on the road or water with zero hassle.”
To learn more about the financial tools Synchrony offers to serve the needs of consumers and businesses alike, click HERE.
Synchrony’s eSignature and autopay features help small business Neilsen Entreprises seamlessly finance their products for consumers.
Regions Bank
Regions Bank’s commitment to serving small business owners with everything from long-term planning to day-to-day needs helped one small business owner reach new heights.
Regions client Tamiko Bailey was recognized by the Small Business Administration (SBA) for her work supporting veterans and her community involvement through her small business Baliey’s Premier Services. Bailey fell in love with aviation during her time serving in the U.S. Air Force and founded Bailey’s Premier Services after working in aircraft maintenance in the private sector.
Following the launch of her business, Bailey found partnering with the right financial services provider to be a challenge – until Regions Commercial Relationship Manager Julie Cottongame reached out to Bailey in 2024 as the bank expanded to the Fort Worth area.
The Regions team provided the needed support for Bailey’s Premier Services by bringing in the necessary specialists early on in the process, including SBA loan experts to assist Bailey with future lending tools from the SBA.
Bailey highlights how helpful it was for the Regions team to support her in the daily processes of her business such as payroll.
“Julie, Trent, the whole Regions team – they really spent a lot of time trying to learn my business. What we did, how we did it, when we got paid, when we would need to make payroll,” Bailey said. “Just being able to call them up while I’m trying to catch a flight and say ‘Hey, we have payroll!’ and they’re like, ‘I got you.’ It’s easy. I’m not stressed out. I can run my business and can grow.”
Today, Bailey’s Premier Services employs over 160 staff, and operates in 11 states and the United Kingdom. To learn more about Regions’ work with this small business, click HERE.