Pamela Campbell, Sr. VP & San Diego Regional Manager for California Bank & Trust

	It seems as though just a few years ago, business banking was pretty simple and straightforward. The typical dental practice had checking and savings accounts, and patients paid by cash, check or insurance. Then along came a dizzying array of bank offerings – credit products, online banking, cash sweeps and a myriad of other services.

	The good news is that today’s banking tools can help your dental practice become more efficient and profitable than ever. The difficult part is choosing which solutions make sense for your particular practice. While the options are many, most dental practices start with a few basic products:

	Do you collect and deposit income in a way that maximizes the interest you receive on your money? Do you use a method of tracking expenditures that prevents errors and fraud?  Are your receivables and payments automated so that your staff saves time on manually entering data?

	If you answered “No” to any of these questions, consider the following solutions:

		Collection services such as remote deposit, which allow you to deposit and start earning interest on patients’ checks immediately without ever leaving the office.

		Automated account reconciliation and disbursement services that automatically transfer funds from one account to another on an as-needed basis and reconcile your expenditures with little manual entry.

	Another cash management tool that is vital for any dental office is credit card processing. This tool not only allows you to efficiently collect patient payments, but also to generate reports that help you track and analyze your cash flow.  When evaluating services, be sure to look for ones that offer low discount rates, a user-friendly interface and 24/7 access and support.

	About California Bank & Trust: With over $10 billion in assets, California Bank & Trust offers connections to highly-experienced bankers with local decision-making authority, customized financial solutions and the beneficial business relationships and opportunities our clients need to succeed.

Articles

 It seems as though just a few years ago, business banking was pretty simple and straightforward. The typical dental practice had checking and savings accounts, and patients paid by cash, check or insurance. Then along came a dizzying array of bank offerings – credit products, online banking, cash sweeps and a myriad of other services.

Choosing the best banking solutions for your practice

	The demand for dental practitioners has never been higher. According to a 2007 study by the ADA, the average age of the practicing dentist is 49.  Fewer students are enrolling in dental schools, and there are fewer dental schools today than there were in the 1980s. The state of the industry affords today’s practicing dentists an opportunity to reinvest in their practice and expand their business to meet the growing demand.

	In order to expand your practice, you need a solid financial partner. Your banker should be a trusted advisor who guides you to the products and services that will suit your needs and that will help you grow your practice. This concept is what we at California Bank & Trust (CB&T) call relationship banking. True relationship banking affords customers access to knowledgeable and experienced business bankers who are interested in getting to know about you and your dental practice. 

	Whether you are a new graduate starting up a practice, or a veteran dentist looking to make an acquisition, you need to find a bank that has the credit products that will help you accomplish your financial goals. CB&T offers credit for working capital, loans to finance or lease equipment, SBA loans for real estate purchases and term loans, all of which can be used to meet the needs of your growing practice. A qualified banker should be able to make suggestions on the right credit products you need to help you sustain, and ultimately grow your business.

	In addition to available credit offerings, your banker will review all the needs of your practice to offer smart financial solutions that can help your business to be more successful. With the business side of your practice well managed, you can concentrate on doing what you love, serving your patients.

 The demand for dental practitioners has never been higher. According to a 2007 study by the ADA, the average age of the practicing dentist is 49.  Fewer students are enrolling in dental schools, and there are fewer dental schools today than there were in the 1980s. The state of the industry affords today’s practicing dentists an opportunity to reinvest in their practice and expand their business to meet the growing demand.  Relationship banking