For over twenty years, CHAMPRO Sports (www.champrosports.com) has manufactured high performance equipment for America’s athletes. Using the best and most experienced factories in the world, CHAMPRO Sports maintins specifications and performance standards that meet, and often exceed, the heavily advertised brands. CHAMPRO Sports doesn’t use professional athletes to endorse their equipment. Teams and athletes use CHAMPRO equipment because it performs better. But that wasn’t enough for their big bank.

“Even when businesses believe they have financing lined up, it can fall apart, as Champro Sports, a $25 million-a-year sports clothing and products company, discovered last September.  “We had what we thought was a verbal agreement to increase our credit line from $8.5 million to $10.5 million to handle growth in our business,” President Bill Hunt said. But the bank, with whom Champro had a 20-year relationship, declined to follow through, Hunt said.  He turned to North Shore Community Bank (and Wintrust Business Credit), which last month provided the million credit line. “It gives us breathing room and allows us to continue to grow our business,” he said.

- The Chicago Tribune, April 12

As the owner of Mickey Finn’s Brewery (www.mickeyfinnsbrewery.com), Brian trusts his bank to help him achieve his goals. With 70 employees and today’s economy there are business challenges that come up. But, his bank is there to help when he needs it the most. “Libertyville Bank would never do things like the big banks,” said Brian. “The big bank took away my line of credit and then offered me two checking accounts I didn’t need.”

Now distributing their popular Amber Ale at retailers in and around Libertyville, Mickey Finn’s is a local establishment that draws people from Chicago, Milwaukee and surrounding suburbs.

These containers are designed to reduce the number of needle stick injuries, which is important to the healthcare industry. According to the result of the largest international study of the sharp containment systems, the Daniels Sharpsmart System achieved a 33% average reduction in total needle stick injuries in hospitals where it had been introduced.

In addition to a $5 million Revolving Credit & Term Loan facility, Daniels counts on Village Bank & Trust for full Treasury Management Services.

CFHC provides comprehensive, accessible primary health care to the communities of South and Southeast Chicago, regardless of individuals’ race, religion, language, gender, age, income or their ability to pay. CFHC serves more than 17,000 patients in more than 51,000 medical and dental visits and 16,000 social services visits a year.

Robertson Worldwide also manufactures a broad line of drivers for LED lighting devices and ballasts for HID lamps. Robertson has the most complete line of Energy Star ballasts for the fluorescent lamp market and is compliant with all industry energy efficiency programs.

Making sure that they are the leader tomorrow is a prime component of the Robertson work ethic. So they went looking for a bank that matched that ethic. They found Elk Grove Village Bank & Trust and Wintrust Business Credit.

They utilize high-speed, high-powered lasers to reduce process times, CNC machining centers for precision secondary metal working, press brakes equipped with up to 8 axes of backgauge motion to minimize set-up times and a full complement of inspection equipment to ensure parts are produced to exact specifications.

They treat each job with the care necessary to ensure the customer’s total satisfaction. They needed a lender with the same philosophy. So they turned to Vernon Hills Bank & Trust.

But Lava Lite (www.lavalite.com), offers more than just the classic Lava Lamps:

“Lava Lite is a philosophy. Our fundamental principle - to produce nothing but cool. The original shape of cool™ Lava Lamps. Other cool novelty lighting.  And a  cool web site that interacts with our community of Lava aficionados as well.”

So where did “the original shape of cool” go for their credit line?  They went to Northbrook Bank & Trust and Wintrust Business Credit.