As doing business digitally becomes the norm for consumers and companies, many banks have begun investing in creating technology-enabled solutions for their customers. For businesses with complex needs, these products can help them in numerous ways, from streamlining operations and eliminating inefficiencies to reducing human error and creating better cash flow.

“Business success comes with effective time and cost management,” explains Nikhil Bijlani, Capital Bank’s Vice President of Product Management. “The right banking solution can really lighten a company’s administrative burdens, which in turn can significantly improve their bottom line.”

Traditionally, businesses such as property management, title companies, and others that manage multiple client accounts have had to set up, monitor, and track those accounts manually. Now they can streamline the process with Escrow Manager, simplifying recordkeeping and reducing the chance for human error while greatly easing their administrative burden. As an additional benefit, clients with Escrow Manager have access to convenient online reporting, which allows businesses to monitor account activity at any time.

For businesses that receive a high volume of checks, such as non-profits with charitable donations to process, the money and time spent making manual deposits and multiple trips to the bank can be saved with a product called Lockbox. “Businesses that heavily rely on check deposits and processing need a product they can count on, as it directly impacts their cash flow. With Lockbox and enhanced online reporting tools that come with the product, there’s greater control and less worry,” adds Bijlani.

With more and more banks offering these products, Bijlani advises choosing a banking partner carefully. “Given the complex nature of these products,” he says, “it is important to choose not just the right product but also the right product provider. A local bank that can offer personalized, custom service along with the best solutions is key. As a commercial bank, we understand the challenges small and medium businesses face, and we are excited to see more and more companies benefit from these smart banking products.”

Although the idea of competing in today’s global market sounds challenging, 97% of all U.S. exporters are small businesses. To support their continuing expansion and growth, the federal government has launched the Export Working Capital Program (EWCP), a program designed to help small businesses access export working capital by providing loan guarantees to banks willing to lend to exporting companies. Maryland-based Capital Bank is one of the few banks participating in this exciting new loan program.

“The EWCP is a real boon for business,” says Scot Browning, President of Capital Bank. “We hear from many of our business customers how challenging it can be to get financing, as banks are unwilling to lend against foreign receivables. As one of the few banks offering the EWCP, we see this program as exactly the kind of financing opportunity our exporting clients can use to achieve their goals and realize their full potential.”

With loan up to $5 million available, businesses can finance working capital needs, fund export transactions or even upgrade facilities. And even businesses that do no exporting themselves, but work with export partners, may qualify.

“At Capital Bank, we pride ourselves on being a commercial bank dedicated to serving businesses with complex needs,” says Browning. “We’re excited to be on leading edge, offering the EWCP to businesses, and encourage exporters to look in to what the EWCP can do for them.” To learn more about the EWCP and Capital Bank, visit capitalbankmd.com.

Thinking ahead proved particularly rewarding for the attendees of Capital Bank’s latest Thinking Ahead Business Series, held March 6th at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville. The event brought together more than 200 business owners and managers from various industries in the Metro D.C. area to enjoy an informative discussion led by acclaimed economist Dr. Stephen Fuller, PhD, and Sr. Wealth Management advisor Gary A. Edmonds, Sr. Vice President, UBS Financial Services, Inc.

This session provided an overview of the local and regional economy, discussing the impact of national fiscal policies like sequestration, as well as long-term economic trends, including a hopeful prognosis for businesses through 2015.

“In today’s economy, businesses that want to succeed need to think about the bigger picture,” says Capital Bank CEO Ed Barry. “Understanding regional as well as local trends is critical. The great response we got to this Thinking Ahead Business Series shows that businesses are looking for sound advice and solid expertise.”

An ongoing series designed to help businesses plan, execute and grow in today’s challenging business environment, the Thinking Ahead Business Series brings industry leaders and experts together with the business community in the Metro D.C. area. These complimentary events, which are open to the public, are an extension of Capital Bank’s commitment to helping businesses grow.

With a belief that investing in the business community is sound economic sense, Capital Bank is committed to providing business leaders with the information and insight they need, not only in day-to-day operations and decision-making, but also in helping them plan for the future. Through ongoing banking partnerships and events like the Thinking Ahead Business Series, Capital Bank will continue to bring knowledgeable experts to their dynamic business banking relationships.

Is the U.S economy on the mend or is it sliding again? What key trends in the regional and local economies will impact your business in the near term? How will fiscal policy issues, such as sequestration, deficit spending and the new budget, continue to impact the economy?

These are just a few of the kinds of questions that Maryland-based Capital Bank will be working to shed some light on with their next Thinking Ahead Business Series event, to be held March 6, 2014 at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville.

A featured speaker at the event will be Dr. Steven Fuller, PhD, the Dwight Schar Faculty Chair at George Mason University and Director of the Center for Regional Analysis. A popular speaker and acclaimed economist, Dr. Fuller is the author of a series of monthly reports on urban and regional economic development of the Washington Metropolitan area and Fairfax County economies, and has served on the Governor’s Advisory Board of Economists under Governors Kaine, Warner, Allen and Wilder. He will be focusing on key conditions shaping the regional economy as well as challenges in the coming year and beyond.

Dr. Fuller will be joined by Gary Edmonds, Sr. Vice President, Wealth Management, for UBS Financial Services, Inc., who will share trends and insights into current events in capital markets.

A complimentary event bringing together industry experts to discuss hot topics affecting business owners in the Metro D.C. area, Capital Bank’s Thinking Ahead Business Series is the latest offering from a bank dedicated to building strong partnerships with its customers. The National and Regional Economic Outlook: How the State of Our Economy Will Impact the State of Your Business will be held Thursday, March 6, 2014 from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m., followed by a networking session, at Universities at Shady Grove, 9630 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, Building II. Parking is available in Lot 2 or in the adjacent parking garage.

In its ongoing commitment to local businesses, Capital Bank held an interactive seminar Nov. 21 as part of its Thinking Ahead Business Series. During the event, “The Future of Health Care,” more than 150 guests heard key leaders in the health benefits industry discuss the Affordable Care Act and its impact on businesses.

Defined as “eye-opening” by one of the attendees, the seminar covered the workings and implications of the Affordable Care Act. Experienced health benefit professionals Kelvin Robinson, Director for Business Development for the DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority, Scott Golden of Golden & Cohen LLC and Troy Snyder of Insurance Associates, along with Janet Trautwein, CEO of National Association of Health Underwriters, shared key considerations in the implementation of health care for businesses.

The event also included a panel discussion where the panelists addressed pressing questions and concerns from the audience and provided insight about what to expect as businesses move forward.

Ed Barry, CEO of Capital Bank provided opening and closing remarks and commented after the program, “This was a great event to kick off our Thinking Ahead Business Series. Health Care is clearly a topical subject and participants were able to get answers to specific questions and become better informed about impacts on their business. As a company we strive to provide thought leadership on issues of importance to our customers and this is why we host the Thinking Ahead Business Series.”

The next Thinking Ahead Business Series event will feature a look at the US Economy, our region and implications for businesses in 2014.For more information, visit capitalbankmd.com.

Additional event sponsors included: Coakley Realty, Insurance Associates, NFP Golden & Cohen, LLC and Web Mobile Image.

As part of its Thinking Ahead Business Series , Capital Bank is holding an event discussing the impacts of the Affordable Care Act on businesses and how they can prepare for these changes in legislation. The Thinking Ahead Business Series is designed to bring industry leaders and experts to the business community through an informative and interactive series of events addressing the top of mind issues for business owners.

The upcoming event, The Future of Health Care: What to Expect & How to Prepare Your Business will take place on Thursday, November 21st at the Bolger Center starting 3:30pm. Capital Bank understands that most businesses may not be aware of the implications of the latest changes in national health care, that’s why they are bringing together key leaders from within the health benefits industry to share information on what business owners can expect from this new legislation as well as the impact of delays, and help them understand the important decisions they will have to make.

As an interactive seminar it features a panel of experts led by Janet Trautwein the CEO of the National Association of Health Underwriters, considered an expert in the health insurance markets industry, key members of the DC Health Benefit Exchange Kelvin Robinson the Director of Business Development and Katrina Reynolds the Manager for Producer Relations; as well health benefit consultant Scott Golden, Principle at NFP Golden & Cohen LLC.