Whether it’s loans, lines of credit, local expertise, or fraud protection, the list of what business owners rely on their banks for is seemingly never-ending.

Therefore, having the right banking partner can make all the difference in the world.

Firstrust Bank has launched a “Challenge Your Bank” campaign — appropriate given the time of year (the dawn of a new football season) and Firstrust’s status as The Official Bank of the Philadelphia Eagles — to urge business owners to re-evaluate their banking relationships.

“At Firstrust, we believe companies should be challenging their banks to add value, to do the things they say they’re going to do, and to do them when they say they’re going to,” said Firstrust Bank President and CEO Tim Abell. “One of the things that differentiates Firstrust is we understand that our success is dependent upon helping our customers be successful. Companies should be challenging their banks to make sure they’re adding that value and partnering to drive the business forward.”

“Challenge Your Bank” highlights key challenges — slow decision-making, limited customer support, etc. — many companies face with their banks. As an innovative and customer-centric alternative, Firstrust, which understands that each business is unique and tailors its approach accordingly, solves these problems and helps businesses grow through better banking solutions.

The campaign speaks to the frustrations that businesses often feel with large, impersonal banking institutions and reaffirms how Firstrust — a family-owned bank with 90 years of regional expertise — knows the market, gets things done, and delivers on its commitments.

As part of the campaign, Firstrust is featuring red flags, like the ones NFL coaches use to challenge a ruling on the field, that bear the bank’s logo, as well as these common banking “penalties” — in football parlance — that businesses are too often subjected to:

• Delay of Game: Bank is non-responsive and unreliable and drops the ball at critical times.
• Unnecessary Roughness: Bank is not easy to do business with; every interaction feels like you’re being hit out of bounds.
• Pass Interference: Bank technology is outdated and difficult to use, blocking your ability to efficiently manage your finances.
• False Start: Bank hypes up its new playbook but under-delivers when the game is on the line.
• Holding: Bank takes too long to decide on a deal, stalling your business’s drive to the endzone.
• Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Bank provides a one-size-fits-all approach and doesn’t invest time to understand your needs and to partner on a game plan.
• Personal Foul: Bank does not bring new ideas and solutions to the table, treating you like you’re on the practice squad.
• Illegal Procedure: Bank offers premature terms on a deal, then motions to change the terms in its favor.

Abell stressed that businesses deserve more than just transactional relationships with their banks. “‘Challenge Your Bank’ is about adding more value; it’s not just about the products, service, and technology,” he said. “It’s about offering ideas, making introductions, and understanding your business.”

One such relationship that the bank has fostered is with the Eagles. Yes, Firstrust isn’t just The Official Bank of the Philadelphia Eagles; it is the Eagles’ bank. As part of the campaign, Eagles Chief Operating Officer Frank Gumienny and Vice President of Finance & Accounting Andrea Sorli shared their experiences working with Firstrust in this video:

Whether businesses need to manage cash flow, are looking to expand, or are seeking efficiency and innovation, Firstrust Bank can provide the solutions, expertise, and technology to help impact their bottom line.

Learn more about how Firstrust Bank is helping people and businesses achieve success in the very region it calls home.