For financial institutions facing unprecedented deposit challenges, the small business segment represents your most untapped growth opportunity. While 54% of bank executives now cite deposit growth as their top priority, many institutions are still using outdated strategies that fail to resonate with today’s small business owners.
This article explores why small businesses offer the best path to stable, relationship-driven deposit growth and outlines proven strategies to attract these valuable customers in uncertain economic times. You’ll discover how successful institutions are transforming their approach using digital payment solutions, real-time business insights, and partnership-focused tools.
Keep reading to learn to capture the small business opportunity, build lasting relationships that go beyond basic banking, and create sustainable deposit growth while helping local entrepreneurs thrive in 2025’s challenging landscape.
(The Independent Banker 2025 Survey)
The Current Deposit Challenge
Banks and Credit Unions are experiencing a fundamental shift in their business model. Deposit growth has become the primary concern for many banking executives, a complete reversal from just three years ago when loan growth was the main challenge.
This challenge stems from multiple converging factors:
- Rising deposit costs as customers chase higher yields
- Economic uncertainty dampening business confidence
- Trust concerns following regional banking crises in 2023
- Competition from digital-first alternatives offering convenience and competitive rates
Small business owners are navigating significant economic uncertainty, facing ongoing challenges with inflation, unpredictable market conditions, and rising operational costs. They’re particularly concerned about potential tariff impacts on their supply chains and the ongoing uncertainty around federal policy changes that directly affect their banking and financing decisions.
Why Small Businesses Are Your Best Opportunity
Despite economic headwinds, small businesses represent the most promising deposit growth segment. Here’s why:
Growing Optimism: Nearly three-quarters (73%) of U.S. small business owners are optimistic about their economic viability in 2025, and 69% of small businesses are optimistic about the financial trajectory of their business in 2025, and 78% have plans to grow their business this year.
Expansion Plans: While some businesses are scaling back during these challenging economic times, many forward-thinking entrepreneurs are planning strategic growth. 46% of small business owners expect to create new jobs in 2025, indicating increased banking activity and deposit needs. These businesses that invest in expansion during uncertain periods often emerge as the strongest, most resilient companies—making them ideal long-term banking partners.
(Sources: NEXT Insurance Small Business Survey 2025; Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Survey 2025)
Essential Strategies for Small Business Deposit Growth
1. Digital Payment Solutions That Drive Deposits
The most effective approach to small business deposit gathering isn’t just attracting new accounts—it’s becoming integral to how businesses operate daily. Digital payment solutions transform routine transactions into deposit growth opportunities.
Expand Payment Options Connect your small business customers’ sales directly to their accounts with your institution. By offering seamless payment solutions—from processing daily sales to settling service invoices—you become indispensable to their success while naturally growing your deposit base.
Streamline Cash Flow Management Cash-flow tools will reach at least 50% of the small-business market in 2025. Banks that don’t offer these tools risk losing daily engagement to non-bank competitors. Implement solutions that help businesses track receivables, manage payables, and optimize their working capital.
(Source: Javelin Strategy & Research 2025 Small Business Banking Trends)
2. Real-Time Insights That Deepen Relationships
Behind every small business account lies an array of insights waiting to be unlocked. Small businesses generate valuable transaction data that reveals opportunities to provide exactly what they need, when they need it. This hands-on, data-driven approach transforms banks from service providers into genuine business partners, incentivizing customers to consolidate more of their banking relationships.
Transaction Pattern Analysis Use analytics to identify cash flow patterns, seasonal trends, and growth opportunities. When you can predict a business’s financing needs or suggest better cash management strategies based on their actual transaction history, you become their trusted advisor rather than just their bank.
Proactive Financial Guidance Digital tools and dashboards provide comprehensive insights about a business’s financial health, enabling banks to offer timely guidance and support. Platforms like Finli’s business management dashboard give both banks and businesses real-time visibility into cash flow, payment patterns, and operational trends.
3. Technology-Enabled Relationship Building
The future of community banking lies in combining high-tech capabilities with high-touch service. Offering tailored digital solutions that clearly demonstrate your financial institution understands each business’s specific needs creates deeper relationships and trust. When small businesses see that your technology actually addresses their daily challenges—from cash flow management to payment processing—they view you as a strategic partner rather than just a service provider.
Additionally, 33% of bankers surveyed agreed that AI is 2025’s top technology trend. For community banks grappling with limited resources, AI-powered tools present a unique opportunity to level the playing field against big banks.
(Source: CSI Banking Priorities Executive Report 2025)
Enhanced Digital Experiences Invest in mobile-first banking platforms that deliver the convenience and functionality small businesses expect. Customers can open demand deposit accounts in under four minutes, whether in-branch or online when you implement the right technology stack.
Personalized Service at Scale Use automation to handle routine inquiries while freeing your team to focus on strategic conversations about business growth, expansion financing, and comprehensive banking relationships.
4. Community-Focused Value Propositions
In uncertain times, businesses want partners who understand their local market dynamics and challenges. Your community presence becomes a competitive advantage when positioned correctly.
Local Market Expertise Demonstrate your understanding of local business needs through targeted marketing and specialized services. Create industry-specific landing pages for key sectors in your market—whether that’s agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, or retail—showing you understand their unique challenges and cash flow patterns. Emphasize how deposits are used to help other local businesses and homebuyers in the community, creating a visible cycle of community investment and economic growth.
Responsive Decision-Making When customers can get basic banking services anywhere, your competitive edge comes from how quickly and personally you can respond to their needs. Your ability to make decisions quickly and personally becomes a key differentiator. Small businesses need fast answers for time-sensitive opportunities, and your local decision-making authority gives you a significant advantage over bureaucratic national banks.
Community Integration Build genuine relationships by actively participating in local business associations, sponsoring community events, and supporting local economic development initiatives. When businesses see your bank as invested in the community’s success, they’re more likely to consolidate their banking relationships with you.
Deposit Growth with Finli: A Strategic Partnership
Modern financial institutions need partners who understand both technology and the small business landscape. Finli’s platform addresses the core challenges in SMB deposit gathering:
Seamless Payment Integration Finli enables small businesses to collect payments digitally (via ACH, Credit Card and ApplePay) while settlements flow directly into your institution. This creates a natural deposit gathering mechanism that grows with your customers’ success.
Business Management Tools By providing comprehensive business management capabilities—from invoicing to receivables tracking—Finli positions your bank as an essential partner in daily operations, not just a place to store money.
Customer Engagement Opportunities The platform creates multiple touchpoints for promoting relevant banking solutions, from equipment financing to merchant services, helping deepen customer relationships within their existing workflow.
Zero-Fee ACH Processing With Finli’s 0% ACH fees, your small business customers save money on every transaction while you benefit from increased deposit velocity and customer stickiness.
Getting Started: Your Small Business Deposit Strategy
To begin capturing the small business opportunity, start with the fundamentals and build progressively. Focus first on upgrading your digital account opening capabilities and implementing mobile-first banking solutions while deploying basic payment processing tools. Over the next 3-6 months, integrate cash flow management tools and launch customer analytics to begin understanding your small business customers’ needs.
As you mature your capabilities, deploy comprehensive business management solutions and proactive advisory services. Track your success through key metrics including new account acquisition, deposit retention rates, products per customer, and digital engagement scores. The goal is to create a measurement framework that demonstrates both deposit growth and relationship deepening, proving your bank’s transformation into an essential small business partner rather than just a deposit holder.
The Path Forward
The deposit gathering landscape has fundamentally changed, but this creates opportunity for institutions willing to evolve. Small businesses need banking partners who understand their challenges and provide solutions that help them succeed—not just store their money.
By focusing on payment solutions, real-time insights, and technology-enabled relationship building, banks and credit unions can capture the small business opportunity while building sustainable deposit growth for the future.
The institutions that thrive in 2025 and beyond will be those that become indispensable partners in their customers’ success stories. Small businesses represent your best opportunity to create these relationships—and the deposits will follow naturally.
Ready to transform your small business banking strategy? Discover how Finli’s deposit growth solutions can help you capture the small business opportunity. Visit https://finli.com/ to learn more about becoming an essential partner in your customers’ success.
