What is the Difference Between a Credit Union and a Bank

Banks and credit unions seem very similar to most people. They both offer deposit accounts and various types of credit. They have many of the same services, telephone banking, online banking and ATMs; but there are some major differences between the two. If youre wondering where to turn for your next personal loan or arent sure where to open a savings account consider the following differences between a credit union and a bank.

Credit Unions

A Credit Union is a member-owned not-for-profit financial cooperative governed by a Board of Directors elected by the credit unions members. The members of a credit union usually have something in common, such as living in the same geographical region or belonging to the same organization.

Credit Unions offer everything from checking and savings accounts to small business loans, car loans, mortgages, personal loans, and more. A credit unions main focus, however, is on savings and it will usually offer higher interest on savings products than a bank. A credit unions not-for-profit status means that any income it earns is given back to its members, usually via lower interest rates and fees.

Banks

A bank is a stockholder-owned financial institution. Its main goal is to make its investors money and it does so by investing its customers money or lending it to other customers. When you make a deposit at the bank you are essentially loaning money to it. The bank pays you back in interest for that loan but the rates vary depending on the bank (consider that 0.05% youre now making on a savings account you opened several years ago when interest rates were much higher).

Banks also make their money in fees (ATM fees, overdraft fees, late payment fees, etc.). Banks carry the same products as credit unions, deposit accounts, IRAs, credit cards, and so on, but unlike a credit union, a banks products are FDIC insured. (Credit unions are insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) so funds are still guaranteed should the credit union fail).

While it may seem that banks and credit unions both offer the same products and the only difference is in who owns them, credit unions lead the way when it comes to service. Surveys of bank customers and credit union members consistently show a higher rate of satisfaction among credit union members. And while banks are often able to provide more convenience, in that they typically offer more branch locations, customer satisfaction is not as high.

Small Business Telephone Systems For Effective Communication

Implementing an efficient telephone system can definitely improve the way you communicate with your customers and business associates. Small business telephone systems are a great option for budding business enterprises to maintain effective communication.

Convey a Professional Business Image

Repeated breakdown in your communication system and improper call management can adversely affect your business image. Small business telephone systems offer organized call management and professional business communication. The enhanced communication experience that they offer would certainly attract more customers and enhance your sale leads and revenue. These phone systems come with high-tech call handling features including find-me/follow-me call forwarding, call conferencing, music on hold, voicemail, fax to email, voice to email and more.

The auto attendant receives calls in a professional manner and is programmed to transfer them to extensions, mailboxes, call queues, groups and conference rooms, as directed by the caller. The virtual receptionist manages several calls arriving at the same time with incredible efficiency.

Manage your Business from Distant Locations

Business establishments with more than one office and/or a mobile workforce benefit a lot from this small office telephone system. The advanced call forwarding feature routes calls to landline numbers or cell phones configured as extensions. Your business can be easily administered from other locations and you can stay connected to your clients and workforce all the time. Using a broadband connection like DSL, Cable or FIOS, your mobile workers can become an extension of your business PBX phone system.

Powerful Voicemail System

Modern small business telephone systems minimize the odds of missing calls and messages. Unanswered calls are instantly routed to the voicemail system, so that the callers can leave voice messages. This facility helps focus on core tasks without worrying about not taking customer calls during busy business hours. Voice messages are forwarded to your email account as audio file attachments. Whenever a new message arrives in your mailbox, it is promptly alerted on your cell phone.

With these diverse capabilities, small business telephone systems facilitate effective communication with your business clients. To enjoy all the benefits of these phone systems, it is important to get the service from dependable providers. This would assure the smooth functioning of the system, structured services and advanced PBX features at reasonable monthly charges.

Bharatbook.com Commercial Banking in the US

Industry Market Research Synopsis This Industry Market Research report provides a detailed analysis of the Commercial Banking in the US industry, including key growth trends, statistics, forecasts, the competitive environment including market shares and the key issues facing the industry.

Industry Definition This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in accepting demand and otherdeposits and making commercial, industrial, and consumer loans. Commercial banks and branches of foreign banks are included in this industry.

Report Contents The Key Statistics chapter provides the key indicators for the industry for at least the last three years. The statistics included are industry revenue, industry gross product, employment, establishments, exports, imports, domestic demand and total wages.

The Market Characteristics chapter covers the following: Market Size, Linkages, Demand Determinants, Domestic and International Markets, Basis of Competition and Life Cycle. The Market Size section gives the size of the domestic market as well as the size of the export market. The Linkages section lists the industry’s major supplier and major customer industries. The Demand Determinants section lists the key factors which are likely to cause demand to rise or fall. The Domestic and International Markets section defines the market for the products and services of the industry. This section provides the size of the domestic market and the proportion accounted for by imports and exports and trends in the levels of imports and exports. The Basis of Competition section outlines the key types of competition between firms within the industry as well as highlighting competition from substitute products in alternative industries. The Life Cycle section provides an analysis of which stage of development the industry is at.

The Segmentation chapter covers the following: Products and Service Segmentation, Major Market Segments, Industry Concentration and Geographic Spread. The Products and Service Segmentation section details the key products and/or services provided by this industry, highlighting the most important where possible to demonstrate which have a more significant influence over industry results as a whole. The Major Market Segments section details the key client industries and/or groups as well as giving an indication as to which of these are the most important to the industry. The Industry Concentration section provides an indicator of how much industry revenue is accounted for by the top four players. The Geographic Spread section provides a guide to the regional share of industry revenue/gross product.

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x10 Trade Show Booth Play Big In Campaigns

Trade show exhibits can make or break the campaign planning. In this regard, properly chosen and well-conceptualized display materials hold a key in generating attentions. 10×10 trade show booth of the pop up version is gradually becoming popular. Different exhibitors have different requirements. Naturally, the displays also vary to suit various needs. The booth designs play their part in properly showcasing the intended message.

Since recession scar, several companies are looking for cost-saving options to stay afloat in the cut-throat competitive market. Pop up trade show displays and the stall designs give the companies some effective options to save their hard money in promotional activities without diluting the marketing campaigns. New-age technical invention has yielded in many durable and flexible stall materials at cheaper price. Trade show participants now can enjoy proper value for their money. The frames are now made of extruded aluminum that ensures light weight yet strong durability to the whole structure. Now, companies can easily carry them and set them up at the venues. Unique designs have ensured smooth foldable features to the frames. It has resulted in little investment on manpower to put up the stalls and fold them.

Now, the companies of trade show displays guarantee satisfaction and success at mega meets with their budget range of products, designed to meet ever-changing promotional challenges. Aided with eye-catching graphics printed on quality fabric panels these exhibits are no doubt lethal weapons in advertising battle. In order to add more punch to the campaigns, campaigners now relying on hi-tech accessories. The trade show booths give them options to attach Plasma TV monitors, powerful halogen lighting system, audio aids etc. The lights are of low-voltage variety. So, they save electricity without affecting the luminosity. Unique designs establish the themes of the display booths. They can be serpentine, curved, straight, horse-shoe shaped, pyramid-like and many other varieties. Light weight structure-materials ensure their versatility. Moreover, the eco-friendly and wrinkle-free fabric-component and graphics give the exhibitors an effective solution to use the same booths again and again.

Table top displays also have their share of importance. They are low-budget solutions and quite helpful in case of space crunch. Truss varieties have simple systems that do not require any tool to put them up as stalls. The merchants of trade exhibits offer quality services like express shipping within few days and lifetime warranty on specific equipment like the frames. So, there is no cause to worry about their maintenance and repairing issues. Several of the vendors have also started to offer lucrative cost-saving options like renting service. It enables the companies to spend a little price on displays in case of limited use. 10×10 trade show booth has really got many reasons to become a long-term solution in corporate campaigns.

Professional Designed Website Can Quickly Popularize Your Small Business

Are you a small business firm that is seeking an effective means to market yourself to your target audience? Look into a professional Web Design Service to get a website that impresses people about your business. Though there are lots of do-it-yourself ideas on the internet about web designing, nothing can give you the kind of result that a professional website designer can give.

Why Do You Need To Take Web Design Service For Your Small Business Website?

An experienced website designing company will have a team of website designing experts who will implement the latest site design features. This will make your site stand out from your competitors. The site will have all elements necessary by which it is easy-to-use and navigate. All the information that has to be placed in your site will be positioned in the right way and presented in an organized manner so that it is interesting to the people who read it. Having a well designed site will take your small business to greater heights because you can reach across to a global audience. Your products or services are not limited to your local area but it is now available to a global audience. People who are in need of the products or services that your company is offering can now avail it through the information posted in your site.

An impressive and professionally designed website is a great marketing tool. It will showcase your business products or services to a large audience but the cost of such marketing is very minimal. As a small business you have to compete with many medium and large scale businesses in your industry. Having a website will enable you to make a mark for yourself and setup your business as a provider of high quality products or services in your business sector. You can reach out to global customers in the same way as bigger organizations and gain more customers your way. Since your site showcases your brand’s products or services, you can hear from people all over the work inquiring about what your company is offering and how to buy it. Many small business owners are finding better markets by opening a website. If you post blogs, articles or have a Face book profile about your company, you can link all these different internet resources to your site and enjoy the benefits of getting quality site traffic that gives good conversion rates to your site.

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Commercial Mortgage Modification

In todays crumbling, commercial real estate market, both borrowers and lenders find themselves in quite a precarious predicament. Borrowers struggle to make their commercial mortgage payments, while lenders are crippled by the increasing number of defaults on commercial property. Right now the best solution to this problem is commercial mortgage modification.

Commercial mortgage modification is the process of renegotiating the terms of a commercial loan. This is done typically by reducing the interest rate or monthly payment on the loan. Other benefits to the borrower may include an extension of the loan term, a forbearance or moratorium on payments, and of course an alternative to foreclosure.

A commercial mortgage modification is about risk to the lender. A lender will only consider a modification if a borrower is in default or at risk of defaulting. The most important thing the lender will look at in determining whether or not to modify a commercial note is cash flow. One very important calculation used in determining cash flow is called the DCR or Debt Coverage Ratio. This ratio is used by the underwriters to determine if a modification can be approved. If a property is breaking even, meaning the income generated is equal to the operating expenses, the DCR would be equal to 1. If commercial property has a positive cash flow, meaning the income the property generates is more than sufficient to cover the mortgage payment and all of the operating expenses, the DCR is greater than 1. If the property is losing money, the DCR would be less than 1. A lender will most likely not modify the commercial note, if the property already has a DCR greater than 1. Commercial lenders writing new commercial loans will most likely require a DCR of 1.25 or greater.

The most common form of payment reduction seen in a commercial mortgage modification is when the lender converts a principal and interest payment to an interest only payment. A lender may consider this form of commercial loan modification to help the borrower improve their cash flow. By only paying the interest on the loan, as opposed to principal and interest, the payment becomes more affordable for the borrower.

However, in extreme circumstances, reducing the mortgage payment to interest only is just not enough for a commercial property owner. If a lender sees that the borrower will still have negative cash flow even after reducing the payment to interest only, they may consider a reduction in the interest rate. Although the interest rate reduction may be temporary, it will help the borrower free up capital and maintain the mortgage payment on time. Although uncommon, lenders have lowered interest rates to as low as 1% even, to avoid an even more costly foreclosure.

Profit From A Preschool Franchise Business

Kindergartens and preschools have become extremely popular. In bigger cities you will see big preschool franchises as well as smaller start ups. So if you are thinking of starting your own preschool, here are few things to keep in mind and why you should opt for a preschool franchise. To begin with lets look at some statistics. The preschool industry in India is estimated to gross about Rs 4,004 crore. The sector is likely to cross Rs13, 821 crore by 2012, a growth of more than 28% per year, according to estimates from brokerage firm CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets.

With over 40% of learning taking place from the 1 to 4 age group preschools have become imperative. Parents want quality preschools for their children and are willing to go that extra bit for their children. Rest assured if you opt for a preschool franchise and are a good task master you are bound reap profits in the near future.
Opting for a preschool franchise makes setting up a lot easier for you. You have to adhere to certain pre requisites and guidelines which enable you to be focused and do things in a streamlined fashion.

A preschool franchise comes with a reputation. It already built a name for itself, developed its own education system and done its fair share of branding activities and advertising. Parents will always trust an established over a smaller start up.
A preschool franchise caters to parents who have moved to new cities. Sending their children to same school as they did before is a comforting element for all parents. With the education system being the same it helps children adapt faster.

A preschool franchise works on a profit sharing model. Therefore some franchises will go that extra mile to make sure you do well, so they do well! This means extra guidance and support for you.
The different preschool chains in India are Roots to Wings, EuroKids, Kidzee, Shemroack schools, Bachpan just to name a few. The royalty and investment depends entirely on location. A preschool franchise can cost anywhere from 3 to 15 lakhs and the fees can be anywhere from 8,000 to 40,000 per annum. The need for preschools in India is only going to grow making it an extremely profitable venture.

Jobs Opportunities In Financial Sector

Skills for the financial sector

Employers recognize that any degree discipline will teach students skills that are vital in the financial sector, and they dont want to miss out on top graduates just because of their degree background. Degrees develop non-technical soft skills: qualities such as clear communication, the ability to analyze information, time management and good organization. Non-cognates often find that their degree subject complements their work in finance. For example, a modern language degree is helpful when talking to international clients; an arts degree is useful when report writing, and a medical background can provide insights when working in the specialist health care market.
Some non-cognates are put off from applying for finance roles because they feel that they will be at a disadvantage compared to their cognate colleagues. If you have some innumeracy, this wont be the case. Training schemes are designed to give all graduates a comprehensive knowledge necessary to do their work, regardless of their degree. Large employers typically provide ongoing training to ensure youre up to scratch.
Some areas of finance will require you to complete a professional qualification. Here again provisions are made for non-cognates, as the professional association will teach you the basics, while exempting cognate graduates from these courses.

Career in Financial Sector

A career in finance or Finance Job involves a whole range of functions, such as determining the impact of decisions that are made in nearly all-functional areas on the financial front. A Finance Job includes administering portfolios and formulating personal financial plans for investors, supervising banking operations, evaluating and suggesting companys capital budgets and strengthening bank relationships.
Finance Jobs generally do not necessarily require a bachelors degree in commerce or a closely related field. Sometimes it is possible to work your way up in finance career from an entry-level position, but higher positions usually require some further study.

All Top Entrepreneurs Have It Passion

Looking at the top entrepreneurs in any field will show one common quality to which they can attribute their successes. In most every case their business success is a direct by-product for the passion they possess. No where is this more true than with internet entrepreneurs being that in most instances their passion is their chief major resource. For many working online their financial resources are limited therefore they must call upon other resources to compensate as a result. So why does being passionate play such an essential role in the financial ‘fates’ of successful entrepreneurs?

Here is a look at 3 huge benefit this one particular quality offers anybody working online in terms of their ability to achieve business success!

Excitement Initiates Action

For many taking the first step is the most difficult part of carrying out any plan. The excitement produced by being passionate helps to push people to take immediate action. As many know the first step is usually the hardest one to take but successful entrepreneurs use their enthusiasm to overcome this hurdle.

Enthusiasm Drives You On

The energy supplied by an enthusiastic mood helps to propel internet entrepreneurs further into any new project or business venture thus creating momentum. As progress is seen moods are driven higher and so is the level of motivation as well. This is a good position to be in because after seeing progress you also know the concept or ideas you are pursuing actually work.

Resilience Drives You Even Further

Now it is unrealistic to assume there will not be glitches or set backs to contend with but when they do arise your passion helps to minimize any disappointment or discouragement. The tendency is to continue moving forward and the attitude is you will not be denied and this is what is needed to achieve business success. The willingness to do what it takes to get the job done and passion helps to provide and nurture this willingness!

The top entrepreneurs in just about every field all share a common bond insofar as a certain quality they all possess. Being passionate about their business pursuits seems to be an very important factor as to how many successful entrepreneurs reach their goals. In fact no where is this more evident than with the vast majority of internet entrepreneurs. For many working online financial resources are limited therefore what they lack in capital has to be made up for in their efforts and determination. Passion serve as a great resource, as the discussion above explains, for supplying the necessary drive and resilience needed for business success. If this is a ‘resource’ you have in abundance than channeling your efforts online seems to be the way for you to go!

Subway Franchise Review – One Footlong At A Time

The first Subway franchise was born in 1974 even though founder Fred DeLuca opened his first store 9 years earlier. Today there are currently over 29,000 Subway franchises spanning the globe in over 85 countries. Entrepreneur magazine has ranked Subway the number one franchise 13 out of the last 17 years, so its a rock-solid franchise.

Even with its amazing popularity and tremendous track record, the real question is deciding whether or not owning a Subway franchise is the right choice for you and your family. There’s a ton of things you should consider when making this big of a choice, so let’s identify what the positives and negatives are.

First of all, the total cost of entry and the total investment to get started ranges anywhere from $101,000 to $285,000. The reason for the big discrepancy depends on whether you’re buying an existing franchise or you’re having to build one or start one from the ground up. Other costs may include remodeling, leasing equipment, inventory, etc. Typically, the down payment that’s required must come from your personal liquid assets and can NOT be borrowed or come from a loan. That fact right there might eliminate some potential franchise owners.

Every Subway franchise pays a royalty fee to the company, specifically 8% of their overall gross sales. This is very important to understand because losing 8% right off the top before you pay for any rent, equipment, inventory, marketing, employees, etc can make a difference in whether or not you’re profitable. On the other hand, in exchange for the royalties the franchisee’s are rewarded with a strong brand recognition and national advertising campaigns.

As far as sales are concerned, 2800 sandwiches and salads are sold every 60 seconds. This provides a pretty constant flow of customers and expected sales. Potential franchise owners feel comfortable with this knowing that their stores most likely will not be empty. Besides, people have to eat somewhere, right?

On the flip side, you are at the mercy of your store location when owning a Subway franchise. No matter if you are open 24 hours, a location can only serve so many customers and can only make so much money. Obviously the product can not be sold online or in other areas, so actually getting traffic to the store is the only way to make sales. In this regard, the Subway franchise is NOT scalable. An entrepreneur would probably have to own multiple locations to really generate the kind of income they would be looking for in owning a franchise.

Furthermore, to buy a franchise, you must have good credit, have considerable net worth and you have to be approved by the company. Once again, this could potentially eliminate more prospective franchise buyers. In the end, owning a Subway franchise is a solid way to have a great chance of success but keep in mind that to really make it big, you’ll probably have to own about 10 or more.