The Choice Bank Difference
When Landon Poss first spoke with Adam, it was in the middle of a crisis. Landon is a Business Banker at Choice Bank in Fargo, and Adam was in the process of taking out an SBA loan at another bank — a type of business loan with small businesses in mind that are guaranteed by the Small Business Administration. The process was taking months longer than planned. He was frustrated and searching for help.
Landon recognized right away that this was an opportunity to show Adam how Choice can turn a crisis into a positive experience.
“Adam,” he said. “We can help.”
Adam’s troubles began a year prior, when he started the process of acquiring another business. He’s an entrepreneur in the Fargo, ND area and the owner of Pure Water Technology of the North, a company that sells machines for purified water. Last year, he began conversations to acquire another business, also in a niche field; Dakota Mailing and Shipping Equipment, a provider for mailing products such as shipping and postage equipment.
With everything in order, Adam knew the best option to get the financing needed for this business opportunity was through a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan. He approached his financial institution in September 2018 to get this process started, which usually takes about 6 weeks in total.
Adam could not praise the Choice Bank SBA team enough.
“I am very impressed with their expertise and quick response time,” he wrote in an email. He told Landon and Christine that he’s telling all his friends in the business world about Choice.
Christine was proud of her team. They had worked hard, and it showed to the customer.
“We created a satisfied customer, but also an advocate for the bank,” she said. “That is so valuable for us.”
She commended Landon, especially, for his initial recognition that the SBA loan team would be the best route for Adam. It was his confidence that encouraged Adam to give the SBA process another try.
“Landon could’ve done it alone, but he recognized that Adam needed the team,” she said. “He needed to get the customer to believe that our bank could do it differently. And he got the right team to do so.”
Landon’s favorite core value is work hard, do the right thing, and have a little fun. For him, it’s a motivator both in and out of the office.
“That value embodies how I go through my day and my life,” he said. “Any time you interact with a customer or a future customer in any circumstance, it’s another opportunity to wow them at every step.”
Our People First values are at the heart of everything we do. Learn more about our passion for putting People First here.