$550K in Bridge Capital - Steel Framing Contractor

A phone call at the wrong time can destroy a business. But a phone call from the right person at a critical moment can save it.

This is a story about a specialty steel contractor who received one of those critical calls. Not from a savior with unlimited resources—but from a banker who knew someone who could help.

That referral turned a crisis into an opportunity. And it shows what servant leadership looks like in banking.

Four Months to Find $500K

A Georgia-based specialty steel framing contractor was running a $5MM revenue business. They had customers. They had work. They had a solid operation.

Then their bank made a decision that blindsided them: your $500K line of credit is being terminated. You have four months to repay the balance in full.

This wasn't a warning. It was a deadline. For a contractor managing payroll, vendor payments, and ongoing project work, losing $500K in working capital with four months' notice wasn't just bad—it was potentially catastrophic.

The contractor panicked. They approached their second bank for refinancing. They were direct about their situation and transparent about their needs.

Why Traditional Lenders Said No

The second bank listened carefully. Then they delivered the verdict: we'd like to help, but we can't. Your last tax return showed a loss. Our underwriting won't approve this.

Here's the irony: a $5MM revenue contractor generating work and cash flow was being rejected for a single-year loss on a tax return. The numbers didn't match the business reality. But traditional lenders operate on systems and boxes, not business judgment.

The contractor was running out of time and options. They had maybe two months left to find another solution before the original bank's deadline started eating into their operational capital.

At that moment, someone decided to make a phone call that changed everything.

The Banker Who Knew Someone

A regional banker in Georgia—someone who actually understood this contractor's business—decided not to let the traditional box define the outcome. Instead, they made an introduction to Serve Funding.

This banker didn't just pass along a name. They made a call on behalf of the client. They explained the situation. They vouched for the contractor's character and business fundamentals. They positioned Serve Funding as the right partner for a situation that conventional lenders couldn't solve.

That's the call that saved this contractor's business.

The Solution

We moved fast. Within weeks, we structured a $300K unsecured term loan with monthly payments at mid-teens rates. This wasn't the cheapest capital ever offered, but it was available. It was responsive. And it covered the first portion of the bank payoff plus key vendor payables.

A few months later, as the contractor stabilized operations and we built confidence in the relationship, we delivered an additional $250K. This final piece allowed them to completely resolve the outstanding bank balance and move forward with a clear capital structure.

Who Really Won Here

Obviously, the contractor won. They kept their business intact, maintained payroll, stayed current with vendors, and resolved a crisis that could have forced a liquidation.

But here's who else won: the banker.

A few months after Serve Funding introduced the first tranche of capital, the contractor opened their full deposit and treasury relationship with that second bank. Not because the bank financed them (we did). But because the bank showed up as their advisor when it mattered most.

That's the paradox of servant leadership in lending: sometimes the best way to win a client is to admit what you can't do—and know who can.

From Crisis to Opportunity

The contractor isn't in crisis mode anymore. They're in growth mode. And Serve Funding is continuing to evolve the capital structure to match that growth.

We're currently underwriting a receivables-based revolver as the contractor lands larger bids. This will give them working capital that scales automatically with their order book—exactly what a growing steel contractor needs.

And when a 5-year note matures on the company's mixed-use property, the contractor is planning a refinance. The new banking partner has first right of refusal.

This is how relationships evolve. A crisis becomes an opportunity. A one-time solution becomes a long-term partnership. And a banker becomes a hero.

Responsibility: The Core Value That Makes This Possible

At Serve Funding, we don't just fund deals. We own outcomes. And that's what responsibility means to us.

When that Georgia banker made the referral, they trusted us to:

That's not just operating philosophy. That's responsibility in action. And it's why bankers keep referring clients to us.

When Your Client Needs a Referral Partner

If you're a banker or advisor with clients facing unexpected capital challenges. If you've ever wished you had a partner you could refer to who would make you look like the hero. If you want to elevate your advisory relationship by knowing when to say "I know someone who can help"—that's us.

We don't compete for your clients. We strengthen your relationships by solving problems you can't, and positioning you as the advisor who had their back when it mattered most.

Let's create more moments like this one. Together.