How to determine the right bank to do business with?

In a society were everybody do almost same thing, banks are not left behind. a colleague once said it right "We all do same thing, market same thing and to same people ". So, how can an average individual determine the right brand to do business with, or that would hold their finance. I have been part of the banking business for some years. I can attest to you,that the reputation of a bank and their small business travels quickly, and this can have both a positive and negative impact on our choice of brand to go for.



Listen
Regardless of their size, banks promote their brand through advertising in different journals and media outlets. They communicate their brand promise through advertising, but by listening closely to business owners in your area you can learn which bank takes care of business owners best.  Listen for information on programs/products they offer, credit culture within the bank and the service they provide.  There is no better way to do that than to listen. In any business circle ask the owner who his banker is. In your market you will begin to hear certain names repeated over and over again.

Ask Question
It is very important that you ask question before dealing with any bank. Drive your question  to align with what you want, your business needs, the business environment needs. How strong  is their brand? Who are the management? Are they strong enough to manage my finance? Are they Customer friendly? etc. You should note that banks promote their brand through advertising in different ways, and so, you should not allow your question to be biased by their promotions and advert.
Choosing a good bank and business banker is not about how catchy the ad is . It comes down to finding a partner that has weathered and reacted to events in your city or market. Try to get a sense for the consultants that are especially good at listening. If you pay close attention to the details you should find the right bank and business banker for your needs

Product
What are the product that they offer? does their product suite your business? A strong and reliable bank would drive their product to suite the business need of their Customer. Therefore, drill further for the right product!!