Month: May 2024

Many business owners may not realize that their bank can be a strategic partner, offering more than just a checking or savings account for their businesses. Small businesses’ banking partners are often deeply invested in their success and impact on their communities, offering services beyond financial product expertise by also providing valuable advice during uncertain times. By building a strong relationship with their bank, small business owners can gain access to customized strategies for managing cash flow, securing credit, and achieving your business goals.

KeyBank’s 2024 Small Business Survey found the top three pieces of advice owners have received are: cut costs by reducing discretionary spending (34%), establish an emergency fund (22%) and diversify revenue streams by introducing new products or services (20%). This comes at a pivotal moment, as small business owners navigate cash flow and business operations amid a challenging economic backdrop.

The good news: More than half (52%) of small business owners are confident that their banks understand their cash flow concerns! Still, almost 20% are unsure if their banks do so – pointing to an opportunity for banks and business owners to expand their relationships.

“As inflation concerns continue and interest rates rise, small business owners are seeking guidance to ensure their long-term success,” said Mike Walters, Head of Business Banking at KeyBank. “KeyBank is proud to offer resources and tools to help equip them to weather financial uncertainty and help their business run better.”

KeyBank, a top SBA lender1, has provided more than $4.5 billion in small business loans and lines of credit. Most recently, KeyBank received their 11th consecutive “Outstanding” rating from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) on its most recent Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) exam.

Key’s commitment to inclusive communities is vast, encompassing a broad range of programs, initiatives, and collaborations. KeyBank is dedicated to supporting low-to-moderate income (LMI) communities as well as providing community investments to bring access to capital to local businesses. In 2023, we provided $267.7 million in small business lending to LMI communities and, in 2020 and 2021, processed 69,000 loans through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), providing more than $11.2 billion in critical funding to small and mid-size businesses.

Learn more about KeyBank’s opportunities and programs for your small business by visiting key.com/small-business. KeyBank offers a range of tools, including the KeyBank Small Business Check-In, KeyBank Small Business Financial Review and the Business Cash Flow Calculator.

Methodology

This survey was conducted online by Survey Monkey. 1,983 respondents, ages 18-99, located in the United States, who own or operate a small-to-medium size business with an annual gross revenue of less than $10 million, completed the survey in March 2024. Learn more about KeyBank’s opportunities and programs for your small business by visiting key.com/small-business. KeyBank offers a range of tools, including the KeyBank Small Business Check-In, KeyBank Small Business Financial Review and the Business Cash Flow Calculator.

CFMA #240508-2592782

This material is presented for informational purposes only and should not be construed as individual tax or financial advice. KeyBank does not provide legal advice. All credit products and SBA Loans are subject to approval, terms, conditions, and availability and subject to change. KeyBank Member FDIC, SBA Express Lines of Credit ARE NOT FDIC INSURED OR GUARANTEED. Key.com is a federally registered service mark of KeyCorp. ©2024 KeyCorp

1Source: Statistics released by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) October 2023 for total approved loans through the SBA’s 7(a) lending program during the federal fiscal year ending 10/2023.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 20, 2024 /3BL/ – Global end-to-end logistics services provider DP World has designed an industry-first solution based on using 53-foot intermodal containers with racking systems to transport finished vehicles by rail from Mexico to the United States and Canada.

From June 1, 2024, DP World will offer an industry-first, 53-foot intermodal container solution to transport cars via rail from Mexico. The service is based on loading finished vehicles into containers directly at the factories in Mexico or at designated stuffing yards close to the manufacturing hubs. The containers are then trucked to intermodal rail ramps and moved by rail to destinations like Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, and Toronto.

At destination, the containers are trucked from the rail ramp to designated yards where the cars are unloaded and trucked to the dealerships. Door-to-door transits range from eight to 14 days, depending on the route. It is estimated that the new service will enable an additional 30,000 finished vehicles to be transported between the trading partners in 2024.

Traditional 40-foot containers typically house a maximum of four cars, but the 53-foot-long containers can accommodate up to six vehicles, significantly enhancing efficiency whilst reducing costs for OEMs. Notably, DP World is the only logistics company currently providing the intermodal 53-foot container solution for finished vehicles.

In 2023, Mexico surpassed China to become the U.S.’s top trading partner, largely thanks to a burgeoning cross-border relationship based on Mexico’s growing manufacturing sector, particularly in automotive. This was bolstered by the 2020 United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

DP World’s new “cars in containers” innovation comes as the automotive logistics industry in North America continues to face challenges caused by ro-ro and multilevel railcar capacity shortages, which are fueling the need for alternative outbound solutions.

It is estimated that DP World’s new service will enable an additional 30,000 cars to be transported between the trading partners in 2024. Since the beginning of 2024, the company has already transported over 5,000 cars across the Mexico–U.S. border for American and Japanese based OEMs with manufacturing in Mexico.

Christoph Seitz, Global Vice President Finished Vehicles at DP World said: “Our extensive experience shipping cars in containers worldwide, the large racking fleet we can deploy globally within weeks, and our expert teams and hyper focus on quality and service have enabled DP World to provide this unique solution in a challenging environment. Our initial volume shipments this year have proven concept that the 53-foot intermodal solution is a viable alternative during times when traditional capacity is tight, so we decided to officially offer the program to the wider market.”

– END –

DP World Americas Media Contact:

Melina Vissat, Head of Communications 
M: (+1) 704-605-6159 
E: melina.vissat@dpworld.com

About DP World 

Trade is the lifeblood of the global economy, creating opportunities and improving the quality of life for people around the world. DP World exists to make the world’s trade flow better, changing what’s possible for the customers and communities we serve globally.

With a dedicated, diverse and professional team of more than 108,100 employees from 161 nationalities, spanning 74 countries on six continents, DP World is pushing trade further and faster towards a seamless supply chain that’s fit for the future.

We’re rapidly transforming and integrating our businesses — Ports and Terminals, Marine Services, Logistics and Technology – and uniting our global infrastructure with local expertise to create stronger, more efficient end-to-end supply chain solutions that can change the way the world trades.

What’s more, we’re reshaping the future by investing in innovation. From intelligent delivery systems to automated warehouse stacking, we’re at the cutting edge of disruptive technology, pushing the sector towards better ways to trade, minimising disruptions from the factory floor to the customer’s door.

WE MAKE TRADE FLOW 

TO CHANGE WHAT’S POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.