Only one in ten small businesses will make it their 10 year anniversary. That means access to capital plays an important role in the viability of small companies everywhere — and our economic well-being. Simply put, we need small businesses to succeed, and we need to ensure they have the resources to do so. Fortunately,… Read More


Is money flowing out of your business, faster than it’s coming in? Turns out, you’re not alone. According to the National Federation of Independent Business research, half of small businesses don’t hold enough cash for one month, while 25 percent of small businesses can’t even make it two weeks. While challenges vary from industry to… Read More


You can think of culture as your company’s personality. Just as with personality, corporate culture impacts perceptions, both internally and externally. Sites like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor make it so any conversation about your company can become public information. Point being, how your employees are treated, and the work environment you create, can positively or… Read More


Each week, FirstBank officers converge to a sharply appointed boardroom for “Loan Committee,” where we review loan requests that exceed certain thresholds. Over the course of 90 minutes, officers  present certain loan deals in front of executives and staff. It’s unusual compared to other institutions, but it’s also what makes FirstBank unique and enables us… Read More


How can you ensure that your business is maximizing efficiency and productivity? Here are some strategies you can implement to help a business run smarter, smoother and level the playing field between small organizations and large corporations. Artificial Intelligence Providing quality customer service can be costly and might not be feasible for smaller businesses. Instead… Read More


With the New Year almost here and 2018 budgets top of mind, there seems to be a misconception that most businesses need heavy-hitting resources to effectively market themselves. While marketing can be costly, it doesn’t have to be. There are several tips and tricks that can help you promote your business on a large level… Read More


In an age where consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about processed chemicals and added sugars, Denver-based Stem Ciders, offers something refreshingly simple in their crave-able ciders: all natural ingredients. The urban cidery, tucked away in Denver’s RiNo district, makes all of its ciders – from its Raspberry Apple Cider to its flagship Real Dry Apple… Read More


FirstBank’s mission is to help businesses get big. It’s one of the reasons we advertise customers on billboards and feature them on our blog. It’s also why we partner with our customers for different programs and campaigns such as Food Truck Friday or Capture the Cube.  If we have a corporate event or a customer appreciation effort, we always… Read More


Which One is Best for You? Businesses are very similar to a living, breathing entity. And much like living beings, your business needs nourishment to grow. Instead of vegetables and vitamins though, your business’ nourishment is cash.  Cash helps transform your vision to reality, increases your buying power, expands your physical footprint and hires more… Read More


An Emmy award-winning visual effect artist, two fans of Nintendo and a passion for brewing – these are the ingredients behind one of Phoenix’s favorite craft breweries, 8-Bit Aleworks. Started by Ryan and Krystina Whitten in 2015, 8-Bit’s name and retro-gaming theme was inspired from the Nintendo game console the husband-wife duo played as kids. The… Read More