In 1990, I interviewed local realtor Judy Columbus for my first book. She told me that, in preparation for a meeting with a bank loan officer, she had a detailed business plan.

The officer listened to her carefully, asked the appropriate questions, and ended the meeting with an inappropriate question: “Does your husband know you are doing this?” Never at a loss for words, Judy asked him in return, “Does your wife know you’re asking questions like that?”
 
Fortunately, times have changed. The climate for entrepreneurs is much more supportive than it was when Columbus wanted to open her own business.

According to Linda DeCocq, Commercial Bank Manager for M & T Bank in Pittsford, “We support individuals who have a great idea and need the capital to launch their own business. In fact, our bank has been named the #1 Small Business Administration (SBA) Lender for the last 18 years in a row for the Buffalo/Rochester/Syracuse region.”

Ikeeping with the words of Susan B. Anthony, who said, “Every woman needs her own purse," M&T extends a helping hand to women entrepreneurs as easily as they do to men. Children are included under the customer-umbrella, too.
 
DeCocq said M&T gives over $1 million to local charities every year. In so doing, the bank embodies the observation of  basketball superstar Magic Johnson: “If the community is happy, then they support your business and if your business is doing well, then you can give back even more to the community.”