In today’s hectic business environment, many business owners and managers are often so focused on the day to day operations that they don’t have the time to concentrate on enhancing their overall business plans.  Amegy Bank believes that beginning of the New Year is an excellent time for companies to evaluate their internal processes, including their financial strategies.

One way that businesses of all sizes are improving their money management is to utilize treasury management through their banks.  By incorporating just a few treasury management services into your company’s cash management strategy, you can drive efficiency, save money, enhance security and position your business to increase its overall revenue.  Amegy offers a wide range of treasury management solutions that can benefit your business, including:

Remote Deposits
Amegy’s remote deposit service gives clients the ability to scan and electronically submit checks for deposit using a basic PC with Internet connectivity and a certified scanner available through the bank.  This improves the efficiency of your business as it allows you to make check deposits electronically without having to physically transport checks to the bank.  Cash flow is improved since funds are available much faster and deposits can be made after typical branch closing times.

Lockbox
Lockbox helps your business reduce collection float, accelerate remittance procedures and simplify accounts receivables processing.  You can reduce your processing costs by outsourcing your accounts receivable processing to the bank and increase the speed of cash flow.

Merchant Services
Merchant Services is the treasury management capability that lets you accept credit and debit cards for goods and services sold to your customers.  Amegy can provide you with the proper tools, software and security measures to process payments and receive credit directly into your account.  Merchant services will not only benefit your business, but will also provide a convenience to your customers, as they have the option to use other payment methods besides cash and checks.

Electronic Payments
Many businesses utilize Automated Clearing House (ACH), an electronic payment network that businesses use to transfer funds from one account to another.  It can be used to automate payroll and for making business to business payments, thus eliminating the need to print and mail paper checks.  This option also reduces the room for error and is less expensive than wire transfers.

Fraud Prevention Services
Check fraud in the United States has increased to billion-dollar levels. Technology has made it easy for fraudsters to create fraudulent checks and present them as real checks.   There are treasury management tools that can help protect you protect your business from unauthorized transactions.

For example, as electronic payments are becoming more widely used, ACH fraud has increased as well.  Amegy offers a web-based system called ACH Positive Pay, which is a web based system that allows businesses to establish a list of ACH filters and view and approve ACH transactions.  There is also a Positive Pay with Payee Match solution where the business sends the bank a file every time checks are issued.  The bank will then match the checks the company issued against checks presented for payment, and any exceptions are reported to the company for a “pay” or “no pay” decision.

Commercial Cards
The Commercial Card (also known as Purchase Card) allows a business to simplify and enhance all aspects of the purchasing processes, including transaction monitoring, reporting, online expense management tools, vendor negotiations, security and payment.  A Commercial Card program allows a company to bring their business expenses back into tight control along with efficient management.

Additionally, Amegy’s online accounts receivable collections tools can give you the ability to debit your customers for a one-time payment, a recurring payment or a payment plan, via ACH or credit card.  This makes it easier for customers to make payments at their convenience.

These are just a few examples of the many treasury management resources available to businesses; there is no one-size-fits-all approach.  Amegy Bank offers a variety of treasury management products and services and can work with you to find the best solution to meet your needs.  If you would like to talk to an Amegy banker about treasury management options for your business, please contact our treasury management team at (210) 343-4421 or visit us at www.amegybank.com.