Categories for Advice

Stress In Focus Stress In Focus
Advice

Stress In Focus

Posted on June 14, 2023 Published by
In our May blog, we looked at the critical need for community banks and credit unions to evaluate their commercial loan portfolio. We do this by using a process called “stress testing.” This month, we look a little closer at [read more...]
Stressing is Good Stressing is Good
Advice

Stressing is Good

Posted on May 23, 2023 Published by
In an ever-evolving financial landscape, community banks and credit unions serve as the backbone of local economies. They provide essential financial services to individuals and small businesses. Accordingly, it is imperative to assure the long-term health of these institutions if [read more...]
Watch Out Watch Out
Advice

Watch Out

Posted on December 2, 2022 Published by
Picture yourself out walking, running, biking or most any other activity with a friend. You hear someone (particularly your friend) shout, “Watch out!” What is your immediate reaction? I know mine would be to stop, look up, look forward, and [read more...]
A Subtle Theft A Subtle Theft
Advice

A Subtle Theft

Posted on November 7, 2022 Published by
If you know a thief is coming to steal your property, there is high probability that you would take precautions to stop the theft. But what if that “thief” is like carbon dioxide. A colorless and odorless gas and you [read more...]
Relief Or Real Life Relief Or Real Life
Advice

Relief Or Real Life

Posted on September 21, 2021 Published by
“Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz…Oh what a relief it is!” was the tagline for a well-known antacid medication. This over-the-counter product was available to treat the symptoms of excess stomach acid including heartburn, upset stomach and indigestion. In this time of [read more...]
No Time Like The Present No Time Like The Present
Advice

No Time Like The Present

Posted on August 30, 2021 Published by
We have all heard friends, family, and co-workers encourage us with comments like, “What are you waiting for?” or “There is no time like the present,” or for the “learned” among us, “Carpe diem!” (seize the moment). These exhortations can [read more...]
“The staff at Enlighten have been available for questions, in addition to the engaged work that they do. They've been very helpful as a resource beyond the major audit.”
— Meghann Kasper, Chief Credit Officer, Bank First
“Enlighten gives us a very good second set of eyes on our transactions. They're not afraid to challenge us on some of the work that we've done, which is what is needed. I don't need to pay somebody to tell me I'm good, I need to pay somebody to tell me where I've made mistakes.”
— Robert McPherson, VP of Risk Management, Peoples State Bank
“Enlighten provided industry best practices that weren’t going to show up in an audit report. They would say, ‘Hey, I noticed you do this. This is really unique, you do a really great job of it.’ And then they might add, ‘Some other clients that I have are doing something like this.’”
— Bill Beardsley, President, Michigan Business Connection
“By questioning some of our methodologies, Enlighten has helped us say, ‘Okay, this is where we need to train staff better and focus on so that they understand what they're doing better.”
— Robert McPherson, VP of Risk Management, Peoples State Bank
“The organization of the communication — before, during, and after the reporting process — was certainly better with Enlighten than what I've experienced with a lot of auditors.”
— Bill Beardsley, President, Michigan Business Connection
“The staff at Enlighten have been available for questions, in addition to the engaged work that they do. They've been very helpful as a resource beyond the major audit.”
— Meghann Kasper, Chief Credit Officer, Bank First
“Enlighten gives us a very good second set of eyes on our transactions. They're not afraid to challenge us on some of the work that we've done, which is what is needed. I don't need to pay somebody to tell me I'm good, I need to pay somebody to tell me where I've made mistakes.”
— Robert McPherson, VP of Risk Management, Peoples State Bank
“Enlighten provided industry best practices that weren’t going to show up in an audit report. They would say, ‘Hey, I noticed you do this. This is really unique, you do a really great job of it.’ And then they might add, ‘Some other clients that I have are doing something like this.’”
— Bill Beardsley, President, Michigan Business Connection
“By questioning some of our methodologies, Enlighten has helped us say, ‘Okay, this is where we need to train staff better and focus on so that they understand what they're doing better.”
— Robert McPherson, VP of Risk Management, Peoples State Bank
“The organization of the communication — before, during, and after the reporting process — was certainly better with Enlighten than what I've experienced with a lot of auditors."
— Bill Beardsley, President, Michigan Business Connection