US Bank has introduced a new online platform aimed at equipping small business owners with tools to grow and manage their operations. The free platform, US Bank Business Resources Central, provides courses, financial education, and other resources to both clients and non-clients, including small businesses in the bank’s supplier network.
The initiative expands U.S. Bank’s efforts to strengthen small businesses — a segment it describes as critical to the U.S. economy and job creation. It complements the bank’s network of business access advisors in over a dozen US markets, who provide guidance on funding, networking, and growth strategies. U.S. Bank also employs procurement specialists to assist small businesses seeking to become vendors.
“Small businesses are vital to the US economy,” said Shruti Patel, chief product officer for business banking at US Bank. “We aim to support them with access to capital and financial education. Our new private learning platform offers essential resources, and our team will work closely with business owners for any follow-up assistance.”
Developed in partnership with advisory firm Next Street, the resource hub features courses on topics such as business continuity planning and preparing for financing. The platform also offers access to U.S. Bank’s Financial IQ content and product pages.
“Small business suppliers often struggle with access to the right networks and getting good advice to help them succeed,” said Craig McKenney, chief procurement officer at US Bank. “Now our business access advisors and procurement specialists can direct those small business suppliers to a private learning platform, which has resources to help them.”
Next Street, which focuses on inclusive economic development, provides a range of services from strategy to capacity-building platforms that aim to accelerate small business success.
“Small businesses make critical contributions, from spurring innovation to creating jobs, within local communities and supply chains,” said Charisse Conanan Johnson, CEO of Next Street. “In doing so, small businesses propel new economic growth across the nation. Next Street is proud to partner with US Bank on a new resource hub to ensure small businesses have access to the experts, networks, and capital they need to reach their dreams.”
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