Balancing The Banker-Customer Relationship

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Running Time: 7:51

Date: 01/05/2012

Want a good relationship with your banker? Then communicate!

If there's one piece of advice Shaun Huntington says has helped his clients through thick and thin, it's keeping the lines of communication open.Shaun owns and manages the BOQ branch he started up five years ago. He has alwaysencouraged his customers to keep in touch, as often as possible. Some customers are more open with him than others, he says, and that's understandable -but they're the ones he's more easily able to assist when times are tough. And getting in touch early, he says, when the warning signs start to appear. That gives Shaun the best chances of helping a business out of trouble. It helps that he, like his customers, is a small business owner - he owns and manages his BOQ branch, he's started it from scratch, seen it grow, seen his staff flourish, and he understands the challenges of sustaining a business and making it grow. Just like his customers. Sometimes he needs to make hard decisions on lending to customers and if that's the case, Shaun's philosophy is to be direct, honest and straight forward. Getting close to customers comes with a responsibility to be up-front and open. Shaun's a passionate business builder - his own and his customers'.He has a vested interest in making sure his customers do well - his success depends on their success. And there's not a day he doesn't get out of bed ready for the challenges the day will bring. Lucky man!