Knowledge CenterMarch 2012 When Disaster Strikes: Planning for the Unexpected by Jeff Balsman, SVP of Technology, and Maura McKenna, SVP of Corporate Banking Is your business ready for the unexpected? A flood. A tornado. A fire. A pandemic. Theft. If an emergency situation happens at your company, will you have the peace of mind knowing that you're prepared?
Commentary: Equity Markets Hit New Highs; Will the Economy Follow? by Doug Williams, President and CEO
US equity markets are robust with the Dow Jones Industrial Average hitting new highs and other major market indices surging near historic peaks; however, economic data remain mixed and most economic forecasters expect 2013 US GDP growth of around 2%. What accounts for this divergence of performance and are financial markets indicating a brighter future than economists expect? Read more >
January 4, 2013 Commentary: Politicians Punt - What Now? by Doug Williams, President and CEO
Action by the US Congress on New Year’s Day to avert substantial tax increases is welcome news; however, it does little to improve the nation’s fiscal condition or economic prospects. Congress must still address the debt limit and spending cuts over the next couple of months to avoid a significant global financial market crisis and an economic recession. The obvious, but politically elusive, solution is meaningful reform of entitlement spending and pro-growth tax policies. Read more >
December 14, 2012 Atlantic Capital Client SEI Aaron’s Opens 100th Franchise Store
On December 14, 2012, Atlantic Capital Bank client SEI Aaron’s, a lease-to-own retailer specializing in the sales and lease ownership of residential furniture, consumer electronics, and home appliances, opened its 100th retail store in Concord, New Hampshire. On the very same day, the leadership team traveled to Hamburg, NY, where they opened the 101st store.
December 12, 2012 Economic Update: December 2012 by Doug Williams, President and CEO
The headlines and airwaves are filled with predictions of dire consequences of failure to avoid the fiscal cliff. Most economic forecasters assume a quarter or two of GDP contraction, persistently high joblessness, and a financial market crisis. Political commentators fear calamitous mid-term election damage to one party or another. The more hopeful expectation is that calmer heads will prevail, and that after a bit of political theater played on the precipice of the cliff, an acceptable compromise will be developed to free the economy to a more orderly, if not robust, expansion. Read more >
November 13, 2012 Georgia US Attorney speaks to group of business leaders at Atlantic Capital November 7, 2012
September 10, 2012 Economic Update: Election Year Realities Ensure Little Action on Looming Fiscal Cliff by Doug Williams, President and CEO
The current pace of economic recovery is lethargic and likely to remain so in view of prevailing uncertainties. In the US, new jobs are in short supply and labor force participation rates are declining. The manufacturing sector has contracted, exports are sluggish, and services sector expansion is languid. Read More >
August 22, 2012
Economic Update - July 2012 by Doug Williams, President and CEO
The pace of economic activity appeared to lose velocity during the second quarter as consumers, business owners, and investors grew more defensive in view of a multitude of uncertainties. In the US, new jobs numbers weakened and labor force participation declined. The manufacturing sector contracted and exports waned while the services sector expanded lethargically. Abroad, the growth of the Chinese economy moderated and major European economies were precariously balanced on the precipice of recession and financial crisis. Read more >
July 5, 2012 Remote Deposit Capture vs. Lockbox Processing: By Glenna Reeves, Senior Vice President of Corporate Financial Services
April 31, 2012 by Douglas L. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer
International trade has grown rapidly in recent years, despite the poor economy, due to a range of factors, including:
Proactive Hedging
The New Maynard Jackson International Terminal: Bringing Business to Atlanta Last week I was privileged to attend a dinner at the Atlanta airport that was hosted by the Netherlands American and Belgium American Chambers of Commerce. Dinner was excellent, but the highlight of the evening was a preview tour of the new Maynard Jackson International Terminal. The new terminal is impressive. Read More>
March 13, 2012
Home Prices and Consumer Spending by Rogier Kamerling, Treasurer
February 14, 2012
by Douglas L. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer
In December, I wrote about the structural limitations on economic growth imposed by heavy debt burdens in the household and public sectors. It seems clear that correcting these excesses will define the fundamental direction of economic activity for the next three to four years, if not longer; however, the monetary policy response to current conditions may have an equally consequential effect on the future. Read More >
December 13, 2011
Economic and Business Outlook, December 2011
The economy rebounded modestly in the third quarter with higher consumer spending and export sales. However, the inability of government leaders and central bankers in Europe and the United States to settle on solutions to correct heavy debt burdens and yawing budget deficits heightened anxiety about the future course of economic activity. As a result, business managers and consumers are expected to maintain a largely defensive posture as we begin the new year. Read More >
December 9, 2011
Cutting Costs by Ashley Carson, Senior Vice President of Corporate Banking
In this challenging economic environment, I frequently come across clients who are scrambling to cut expenses. Companies can find quick improvement to the bottom line through what I call a “Deposit Checkup” - a detailed review and assessment of a company’s analysis statements. Read More >
December 1, 2011
Utilize one of your best assets: Your banker
The best business advice I can give a company is to fully utilize its banker’s knowledge and network. If your company isn’t taking full advantage of your banker’s resources, you may be missing out. Read More >
October 12, 2011 Williams urged Congress to reconsider regulation that will negatively impact the ability of community-oriented banks and small to mid-size businesses to manage interest rate risk. To read the article, please click here.
September 2011 by Jeff McCoy, Senior Vice President of Corporate Banking
September 2011
The Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) recently conducted a survey on fraud with its corporate members. The survey's results should put all companies on high alert. Of the responding companies 71% had experienced fraud or attempted fraud in 2010. Check fraud was involved over 90% of the time. Read More >
Four Years of Progress
June 2011
By Douglas L. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer
Managing your Company's Interest Rate Risk
What are the main risks to your company's success? For many companies, the uncertainty of rising interest rates is a key concern. In the below article, David Shutley, Senior Vice President at Atlantic Capital Bank, answers frequently asked questions about interest rate swaps and how they can be used effectively to manage a company's interest rate risk. Read More>
Click to view two interest rate swap case studies: Interest Rate Swap Case Studies
January 28, 2011 By Douglas L. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer
After growing slowly over the first half of 2010, the economy strengthened in the third and fourth quarters. Export sales grew and the manufacturing and service sectors of the economy moved firmly into expansion territory. Consumer spending increased modestly, but was limited as consumers repaid debt, unemployment was stubbornly high, and housing prices continued to decline in some markets, including metropolitan Atlanta.
October 2010
Economic and Business Outlook
By Douglas L. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer
The pace of economic expansion has slowed over the last few months as early recovery stage inventory restocking, stimulus spending, tax credits, and transfer payments have run their course. US GDP grew 1.7% in the second quarter of 2010, well below historic recovery patterns, and we expect a similar trajectory in the US and other mature economies over the next two to three quarters. Read More
July 2010
Economic and Business Outlook
The economic recovery lost some of its earlier momentum during the second quarter with tentative consumer spending and business investment, limited private sector job creation, and growing concern about the costs of new government regulation and higher taxes. Read more>
May 2010
Economic Commentary – Global Risk and Opportunity
In our first quarter Economic and Business Outlook, we discussed the prospects for further economic recovery and identified key risks to sustained economic expansion. The economy is fragile and its course is vulnerable to adverse geopolitical events, global financial market dislocations, the withdrawal of monetary policy support, and government policy misadventures. We have seen evidence of each of these factors at play over the last few weeks. Read More
April 2010
Economic and Business Outlook
Economic data suggest the severe economic contraction that began in 2007 reached its trough in the second half of 2009, and that a modest expansion in economic activity is underway. Financial markets are now functioning in a more orderly fashion, many large companies are reporting improved operating results, and the pace of deterioration in housing has been arrested. Read More
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