Buddy System With innovative services, banks are creating new partnerships with small businesses.

When Roy Williams Sr. needed a loan to start New Orleans DepotServices in September 1996, he turned to New Orleans-based WhitneyNational Bank. After all, Whitney had served him well during the 20years he'd banked there as owner of AAA Tire Finishing, a tirefinishing equipment and supply company. When he decided to start asecond business with his son Kirk, Williams knew his loan officerat Whitney would work with them to make it happen. And he wasright. Just a few days after applying, the partners got anequipment loan and a line of credit for their shipping-containerservice and repair company.

Good relationships have always been important in banking, butthese days, the relationship between banks and small business israpidly expanding as more banks offer cash management programs,streamlined loans and convenience services to their small-businessclientele. At Whitney National Bank, for example, Williams andother small-business customers can do more than obtain loans andlines of credit; they can also take advantage of a host of servicesunder the bank's new Business Edge Banking program, which waslaunched in May 1996.

According to Whitney's vice president Rebecca Dey, BusinessEdge Banking was the direct result of input from small-businesscustomers. Whitney defines a small business as one with fewer than20 employees and no more than $5 million in annual sales, saysDey.