From Plans to Projects: Making the Most of Your Growth Meeting with a Banker

For commercial construction and real estate development professionals, growth often means bigger projects, larger teams, and more complex financing structures. Whether you’re considering your next development, expanding into a larger facility, or investing in equipment to take on more work, your business banker can be a critical partner in helping you prepare and structure financing responsibly.

As you get ready for that growth conversation, here are a few steps that will make the meeting productive:

Clarify your risk tolerance.

Every development project comes with risk—market cycles, interest rate changes, and construction costs can all impact the bottom line. Be clear on what level of risk you’re comfortable taking, and what collateral you’re willing to bring to the table. For example, if your banker can’t meet your full loan request, are you open to leveraging real estate, equipment, or other assets to bridge the gap?

Plan for cost increases.

Construction project costs continue to rise, especially with the possibility of tariffs affecting certain materials. Cost overruns and delays are common in the industry, so it’s smart to factor in a contingency, typically around 10%—when creating your final budget. Building this cushion into your plan not only helps you stay prepared but also demonstrates to your banker that you’re approaching financing with foresight and discipline.

Prepare your financials.

Your banker needs to see the full picture of your company’s financial position. Bring a current profit and loss statement, balance sheet, and personal financial statement listing assets and liabilities. This helps your banker understand not only your existing capacity but also how you’ll handle the financial demands of a new build or property acquisition.

Bring the right people.

If your controller, CFO, or bookkeeper manages day-to-day financials, invite them to the meeting. Having the right people at the table ensures your banker gets accurate information, and it helps you keep the conversation focused on strategy instead of just the numbers.

Consider multiple funding sources.

Growth in construction and development often requires creative financing. Beyond a traditional bank loan, investigate bridge loans to cover short-term gaps, programs from organizations like CEI or the Southern Maine Finance Authority, or even private equity in certain cases. Exploring these options shows your banker that you’re proactive in securing the resources needed to get projects off the ground.

At the end of the day, your banker should be more than just a lender—they should be a partner in your growth. The relationship doesn’t end when the loan closes. As your projects evolve, your banker can continue to provide perspective, introductions, and support that help you build and grow responsibly.