Bill Koehler

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We discuss KeyBank's services to small and medium sized businesses in Michigan. Key offers both traditional bank loans and venture and growth equity. KeyBank approaches equity both by making its own investments and by acting as an agent for groups of investors.

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Filed under: Ann Arbor, MI | Bill Koehler | Financing Innovation | KeyBank | Tim Gretkierewicz | Venture Capital | Working Capital

 In this segment, Bill Koehler and Tim Gretkierewicz of KeyBank detail the services KeyBank offers to small and medium sized businesses. These businesses may range in sales from just starting up to $20 million.

Often, while potential clients are aware of their own financial needs, they do not really understand how the bank might view their situation. For instance, would the bank issue a line of credit against accounts receivable or seek a mortgage on a piece of property. Essentially, banks are risk averse and make sure there are adequate assets to secure any loan.

Equity tends to be a less risk averse form of finance. KeyBank has the capability to make equity investments through its venture capital branch. It can also act as an agent, putting together groups of investors.

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KeyBank brings a national perspective to financing small and medium sized businesses in Michigan. In this segment we learn about the advantages of a larger asset base, extended geographic scope, and expertise in foreign exchange.

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Filed under: Ann Arbor, MI | Bill Koehler | Financing Innovation | KeyBank | Tim Gretkierewicz

Bank debt financing is an important tool for growing and maintaining a company's business. As we have covered elsewhere, this form of financing is used in lower risk situations where the debt can be easily collateralized. That said, banks may view the risk of particular loans differently and may bring different capabilities to the table that cause them to view businesses and projects differently.

This segment with KeyBank's Bill Koehler and Tim Gretkierewicz illustrates the perspective a national bank can bring to providing debt financing for local small to medium sized businesses. Highlights from this segment include:

• Key is divided into 23 districts nationally. Bill is president of the Michigan district, and Tim is senior vice president of business banking. These districts have autonomous decision making but draw on national expertise.
• A national bank can bring the following benefits:
  • Due to a larger asset base, it may have more lending capacity.
  • Its geographic scope may allow it to facilitate expansion to other regions.
• Key has brought some of its foreign exchange expertise to bear for small local companies selling $400 and $500 parts globally.

In future segments with Key, we will learn more about their approach to business banking and venture capital.