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In March of 2020, Lisa Sonneborn’s business, like many others’, was dealt a difficult blow – COVID-19. The site director and founder of Clarity Clinical Research, LLC, Sonneborn was searching for support for her small business and found it through Pathfinder Bank.

Running FDA-regulated clinical trials for diseases like Alzheimer’s and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), Sonneborn is dedicated to the difficult work of testing treatments that may cure those incurable illnesses. Previously banking with a large national bank, Sonneborn was let down by its lack of willingness to help her business. With Pathfinder Bank’s community-centered approach, Sonneborn was able to receive the help she needed to keep herself and her staff financed through this difficult time, as well as find a loyal partnership offering local support.

Big Problems with Big Banking

The beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic was a challenging time for everyone, but perhaps especially for small business owners. Concerned for the wellbeing of her staff, Sonneborn was determined to search out any resource available to help keep her employees on their feet.

When she heard about the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans becoming available to small businesses, she began preparing immediately. However, after logging on at the crack of dawn when the day came to apply, she received notice that her bank had decided to only accept applications from a portion of its business banking customers.

“It was really astonishing to learn that I had prepared everything to be one of the first people to get it, and the bank had created this rule and not given us any heads up to it,” says Sonneborn.

Dejected, Sonneborn reached out to local family members, of which the Syracuse native has many, to vent about her situation. Her interest was piqued when both her father and father-in-law suggested she reach out to Pathfinder Bank, and when she did, Sonneborn received a call within hours offering help with her loan.

“It was kind of shocking, in the happiest way, to see someone put this effort forward when they had no reason to at that moment,” she continued. “It was even more shocking in contrast to the bank I currently had at the time, which turned me down in my moment of need.”

With the help of Pathfinder Bank, Sonneborn secured a PPP loan for her business, and Pathfinder Bank secured a new loyal customer.

“It got us through some difficult months. I know we all experienced it, but it changed the game for us to be able to keep our staff feeling secure and safe,” says Sonneborn. “I am now proudly a Pathfinder Bank account holder.”

Success through Community Support

For Lisa Sonneborn and many small businesses like hers, PPP loans were one of the crucial pieces of aid needed to help her company survive the pandemic. Thankfully, Lisa was able to see success with her PPP loan and is even in the process of applying for her second round with Pathfinder Bank.

Through the trials of this pandemic, seeing the benefits of doing business with local banking institutions full-time has been a pleasant side-effect for Sonneborn.

“If I have a problem, I actually have the names and phone numbers of the people in my area, who will get on the call and help with it. I don’t have to go searching for someone and not know where I’m going to get the help from,” she explains.

This growing relationship is a collaborative one as well. Another aspect Sonneborn respects about banking with Pathfinder Bank is the importance it places on providing customers with the best experience possible. She was excited when someone from Pathfinder Bank reached out to her to ask for her opinion on the online banking format.

“They’re asking me, a small business owner, to tell them what that experience is like and whether or not those things are working,” Sonneborn adds. “They came to me and said, ‘You matter to us,’ and I think it really represents who they are.”

Sonneborn and her business have also been highlighted in video ads and social media posts for Pathfinder Bank.

Contact Pathfinder Bank today for more information.