News & Insights

Phoenix, March 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --As the #1 fastest-growing bank in Arizona recording 625% loan growth in 2023* helping small businesses, Integro Bank is thrilled to announce its next upcoming exclusive event for the CEO Club. This event will provide a rare chance for local businesses to connect with a leader from a professional sports franchise. Our honored guest, Paul Rivers, the Chief Innovation Officer of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury, will be present to share the hurdles and challenges that he encountered from early in his career to his current role with the organization.

Read the rest of entry »

The 2022 Annual Business Survey (ABS) revealed that there were around 5.9 million employer firms in total. Out of these, 1.2 million (21%) were owned by minorities, 304,823 (5.2%) were owned by veterans, and approximately 1.3 million (22%) were owned by women. These businesses together generate over $1.8 trillion in revenue and employ 6.3 million workers. However, some minority-owned businesses are facing challenges that are holding back their growth. Bank of America's 2022 Women & Minority Business Owner Spotlight highlights that 46% of Women & Minority Business Owners have faced difficulties in accessing capital, among other challenges. Minority-owned businesses should remain vigilant and watch out for these challenges in 2024.

Read the rest of entry »

It has been reported that the number of businesses owned by women has increased at nearly double the rate of those owned by men. According to the National Women's Business Council's (NWBC) 2023 Annual Report, women-owned firms are responsible for creating approximately half of all new businesses for the third consecutive year. As of 2023, the most recent statistics indicate that women own and operate 1.4 million enterprises with employees. As we celebrate Women's History Month and prepare for International Women's Day, it's essential to continue supporting women-owned small businesses.

Read the rest of entry »

Further analysis by the Federal Reserve exposes a disparity: women seeking financial assistance are disproportionately less likely to have their loan requests approved compared to their male counterparts. The data is revealing - financial institutions reject 22% of business loan applications overall. However, when examining the gender breakdown, a troubling trend emerges. Female entrepreneurs bear the brunt of this rejection, facing an average refusal rate of 32%, while male entrepreneurs experience a notably lower rate of 19%.

Read the rest of entry »

Certificates of deposit (CDs) are a top savings strategy for high earners that are easy to use and provide a competitive rate of growth. The difference between a CD account and a savings account is A savings account can be used for quick and easy access to funds for emergencies, vacations, and home or car repairs. CDs offer more interest for less accessibility, while savings accounts offer less interest for more flexibility. According to Lauren Perez a former writer at MagnifyMoney, 50% of Americans Find CDs Confusing.

Read the rest of entry »

Women entrepreneurs continue to make significant progress in various industries. They have launched innovative startups, scaled successful businesses, and contributed significantly to economic growth. According to Luisa Zhou, women-owned businesses have grown by 114% in the last two decades. To sustain and accelerate this momentum even further, there are some potential strategies and advice that could help.

Read the rest of entry »

PHOENIX, Feb. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Integro Bank is honored to announce a special CEO Club event. The event, "Navigating the Entrepreneurial Horizon, Taking That Leap of Faith to Win with Partnerships & RFPs" will be featuring speaker Ron Williams, an award-winning business owner, decorated Desert-Storm Era U.S. Air Force Veteran, who was inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame, and recipient of the Arizona "Lifetime Achievement Award."

Read the rest of entry »

Small businesses often face numerous challenges when scaling and expanding their operations. From visioneerit.com "statistics showing 70% startups finding it hard to scale their business". Limited resources, market saturation, and lack of expertise can hinder growth prospects for entrepreneurs and small business owners. However, strategic collaborations offer a powerful solution to these obstacles, providing opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and mutual benefit.

Read the rest of entry »

Securing Requests for Proposals (RFPs) is a crucial gateway to growth and opportunity for most small businesses and entrepreneurs. As per openassets.com, RFPs have consistently influenced approximately 30-40% of companies' sales revenue over the past four years. However, navigating the intricacies of the bidding process can be challenging, and it requires a strategic approach to stand out amidst the competition.

Read the rest of entry »

The top three challenges in entrepreneurs:

1) Recruiting

2) Inflation

3) Insufficient Capital or Cash Flow.

Read the rest of entry »