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Extending a Financial Lifeline

FIBT Lenders assist businesses struggling due to COVID-19

The actions of an FIBT lender recently made headlines. Rob Morris was simply doing what so many of our lenders have been over the past few weeks—supporting a local business during a difficult time.

Base Pizzeria has become a favorite of Rob Morris. "My wife Christine and I met the owners Carlee, her husband Michael, and her brother Roscoe when they opened several years ago. They happen to be typical easy going fun loving Australians. Their restaurant has become a favorite local spot that we often walk to with our dog from our home. They specialize in quality organic food, served in a fun, family-run atmosphere," Rob writes.

"We were getting take-out from Base recently. I asked Carlee if they had submitted a PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) application to their bank. She told me their bank was not responding to her inquiries," Rob says. The next day, he worked with them to get the application process underway.

"We found with our usual bank that they were struggling a little bit. (They were) struggling with the process and the paperwork. So thankfully, our regular guest helped us out," Michael Morris recently told AZ Family, the Phoenix CBS affiliate.

In the interview, Sands gets a bit emotional as he explains what the loan approval will mean for their restaurant. "It means we'll keep people employed. Keep them looking after their families, and enable us as well, and keep us getting those pizzas out the door."

It's a sentiment being felt by hundreds of small business owners as their PPP applications are approved. Arizona Market President, Erik Stenehjem, takes pride in the efforts of FIBT's lenders, saying of the situation "What matters to us is to extend a lifeline to our communities to get people through this crisis. All of us can be part of the solution. The people affected by this crisis did not make mistakes or wrong choices but were instead thrust into a situation that no one has faced before, doing our part means providing relief to our communities. Our goal is to help as many people as we can."

FIBT is proud to be your partner in building a brighter tomorrow. Information about COVID-19 relief programs available here. Details specific to the Paycheck Protection Program available here.

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