A silver-lining solution

Wintrust approached Horizon Steel to assist them with their commercial lending needs. The Wintrust Business Credit team was able to offer the flexibility and non-traditional collateral structure that other banks couldn’t. With a line of credit, they were able to purchase a new facility in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and have remained a Wintrust client for over 15 years.

“Horizon Steel is a lot like Wintrust, where perhaps they value the relationship as much as they value the business,” says Robert Shanahan, president of Wintrust Business Credit. “They know that they can trust us with their thoughts, their ideas, and when you create that bond, it’s one of those situations that’s difficult to replicate.”

This banking relationship has allowed Horizon Steel to grow organically. “They allow us to do what we need to do without having to worry about that end of the business,” says Nicolay. “It just seems like they’re always looking out for us. Anything we’ve asked for, they’ve worked very hard to make it happen.”

The difference a trusted partner makes

Evaluating new business opportunities comes down to so much more than dollars and cents. Asking the right questions and maintaining a relationship where you can discuss all the pros and cons can makes a difference. Wintrust and Horizon Steel work together closely, developing business decisions that help foster company growth while staying true to Horizon Steel’s mission to deliver top-notch, customizable service.

Nicolay reflects on the process: “Wintrust always asks questions about our supply base; they’re asking questions about our customers. Being involved allows them to be really close to our business, and I don’t think that’s normal in the banking industry.”

No matter how big or small a business is, the Wintrust approach offers more than just products. It offers partnership. “Wintrust will be with us as long as we’re us,” says Nicolay. “As we grow, they grow with us. They’ve earned our business, they’ve earned our trust, and to us that’s golden.”

See how the right banking partner can make a difference. Listen to other Wintrust customers’ success stories at wintrust.com/success.