Optimist fits our model of being an advisor to our clients. We want to provide service beyond what most typical banks offer. We want to have longer, more meaningful conversations with clients to figure out exactly what their needs are and provide them with advice that quickly gets them to their business goals. (With Optimist) our relationship managers can actually sit down with a client or prospect, tie the business's income statement and balance sheet together, and get critical answers right away. Business owners, especially small business owners, don't have a lot of time. They really do rely on someone who can suggest alternate ways of doing things—especially when those suggestions lead to greater business success for them. Paul Brown