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How Bank of Central Florida helped this local women-owned business get started

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Crystal Mathews and Amber Kossak with Bank of Central Florida Relationship Manager Randy Hollen | Photo provided

C. Michael Potthast 234 West Central Avenue Winter Haven, FL

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Launching a business isn’t easy. Entrepreneurs must be resilient, passionate + knowledgeable. They must defend their craft to countless critics and inspire others to believe in a new way of doing things.

They’ve also got to have a solid plan to help finance their goals. Without financial support, even the best-laid business plan can fail. It’s vital for entrepreneurs to choose a bank, like Bank of Central Florida, that understands their localized needs.

With 15+ years of experience, Bank of Central Florida’s team of business bankers can guide and support entrepreneurs in Lakeland to help make the best choices for their business — from cash deposits to business loans.

A local connection:

When Lakelanders Amber Kossak and Crystal Mathews opened their business, Solid Start, in 2010, they needed a bank that would hear their story. The team at Bank of Central Florida listened — and provided the business loan information they needed within 24 hours.

Solid Start is a developer and manufacturer of automotive solutions. With the help of Bank of Central Florida, Solid Start has grown to 30+ employees as they develop products for 20+ distributors around the world.

They recently worked with Relationship Manager Randy Hollen to expand their business with a new building, moving from a 3,000-sqft to a 76,000-sqft warehouse. With the bank’s support, Kossak and Mathews have developed an innovative business model with a customer base that spreads across the country.

Amber and Crystal reflected on the personal touch the bank offers in every client interaction. “We always know who to call,” Kossak said.

Most of all, they expressed their gratitude for the bank team’s support. “Bank of Central Florida believed in our success from day one,” Mathews said.

Learn more about Bank of Central Florida’s business banking services or schedule an appointment to learn how to secure a business loan. Ⓟ

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