Justin Franzer, MBA - Business Banking Relationship Manager

01/29/2026

After a few days out, it was good to be back in the office and back in client conversations.

This year, that approach has led to some meaningful work. Helping a first time buyer purchase his own building through an SBA 7a loan. Supporting a new to the bank client by implementing credit card solutions across multiple locations to simplify expense management. And today, reconnecting with a long standing client navigating a leadership transition after the passing of the owner, working through an operating cycle review to identify ways to improve cash flow visibility, strengthen fraud protection, and automate day to day tasks.

None of these conversations start with products. They start with listening. Understanding how a business operates and what the next chapter looks like for the people running it. From there, it’s about bringing the right partners to the table and building solutions that actually make a difference.

That mindset is what builds strong relationships, strong teams, and strong markets.

01/20/2026

One thing I’ve learned working with growing businesses.

The loan is rarely the hard part.

Understanding how cash actually moves through the business is.

That’s why most of my client conversations start with an operating cycle review.

We look at how money comes in, how it goes out, and where timing gaps create stress or inefficiency.

From there, I bring in the right partners
treasury management for cash flow and controls
merchant consulting for how payments are received
credit cards for working capital and expense management

When clients have a full team covering all sides of the operating cycle, decisions get easier and relationships get stronger.

That approach has mattered far more than rate.

01/13/2026

Calling all CPAs and accounting professionals

If you spend too much time helping clients clean up expense reporting, reconcile card spend, or chase receipts, this is worth a look.

I am partnering with Travis Johnson from our Business Credit Card team to host Spend Management demos designed specifically for CPA firms and accounting professionals.

U.S. Bank’s Spend Management solution helps bring clarity and control to business spending by:

• Reducing manual expense reporting
• Providing real time visibility into card spend
• Automating approvals and enforcing spend policies
• Exporting clean data into accounting systems
• Improving budgeting and cash flow oversight

This is a practical tool that can help you deliver more value to your clients while saving time during month end and year end.

If you would like to see a live demo or learn how this can support your firm and your clients, comment Interested or message me directly.

Learn more here:
https://www.usbank.com/business-banking/business-credit-cards/spend-management.html

U.S. Bank Spend Management allows you to stay in control of your card spending, now available with all U.S. Bank business credit cards.

12/31/2025

As I plan for the year ahead, I’ve been reflecting on what has been the most rewarding year of my banking career.

In 2025, I finished as the #1 banker on the #1 business banking team in Wisconsin at U.S. Bank. I’m proud of that result, but even more proud of how it was achieved.

By building strong relationships with business owners from Madison to Milwaukee and using our Operating Cycle Review process, we helped bring new clients to the bank and introduced tools that improved how their businesses operate day to day.

Grateful for the trust clients placed in me, the teammates who partnered alongside me, and the momentum heading into the year ahead.

12/11/2025

I attended the ABC of Wisconsin Networking Social and Holiday Party last night and walked away with a meaningful new connection along with a moment of reflection.

The event was held at Bowl A Vard and the minute I stepped inside I felt something familiar. It brought me back to my years bowling at Morehead State. I remembered the long practices, the road trips, the teammates who became family, and the sense of camaraderie that shaped a big part of who I am today.

What struck me is how much that environment resembles what I value in business now. Strong teams. Supportive people. Shared goals. Showing up for each other.

Last night reminded me that the places we grow up in often influence the way we build relationships throughout our careers. For me, it all started in a bowling center and those experiences still guide how I approach my work and the people I meet.

Grateful for the conversations and the opportunity to stay involved with ABC Wisconsin as we move into 2026.

11/17/2025

As I sit here planning out my week, I keep thinking about a moment from Friday’s national business banking call. This is my first full production year with U.S. Bank, and I was recognized for the work happening here in Wisconsin.

I reached this point by staying committed to my current clients and making sure they received the full relationship support they deserved. I also focused on bringing established businesses to the bank who were looking for a more complete team approach than they were getting at their previous institution.

I am grateful for the trust from our clients and the partnership across the bank. I am looking forward to building on this as we close out the year.

10/07/2025

Here’s something I wish more business owners understood:
Banks reward full relationships, not just transactions.

When you combine deposit accounts, credit cards, and treasury services under one roof, it does more than simplify your banking. It can actually lower your loan rate.

That’s what we call relationship pricing.

I’ve seen clients reduce their interest rates just by linking a business credit card or opening a money market account they were already planning to use.

The next time you negotiate financing, ask your banker about relationship pricing options. You might be surprised at how much flexibility you really have.

09/29/2025

As fiscal year-end approaches, many business owners are preparing for taxes and reviewing the past year. It’s also the right moment to look at your financing.

Are your credit lines sized for growth? Are your loans priced competitively? Could equipment or real estate financing help reduce taxable income and improve cash flow?

These conversations now can make a big difference in how you start the new year. I’m always glad to connect with owners and CFOs who want to align lending strategies with their long-term goals.

[email protected] | 608-320-4168

09/16/2025

One of the most rewarding parts of my role is showing businesses what’s possible when they have a proactive banking team on their side.

A new client recently shared that, despite long-standing relationships with their previous banks, nobody had approached them with ways to put their cash to work or strengthen their financial operations.

Through our operating cycle review, we uncovered opportunities to:
Increase earnings on idle balances
Protect against fraud with enhanced treasury management strategies
Optimize their credit card program for stronger rewards
Streamline international payments and currency exchange with our FX partner

What stood out most was the client’s reaction—they were grateful to finally have a team advising them, not just holding their accounts.

At U.S. Bank, it’s about more than products. It’s about helping businesses gain efficiency, protect what they’ve built, and maximize opportunities for growth.

09/11/2025

In business banking I get to help companies grow in many ways, from improving cash flow to strengthening treasury strategies and protecting against fraud. One area I am especially focused on right now is commercial real estate financing.

If you or someone you know owns or is looking to refinance a property with 5 or more units and stabilized rents, I would be glad to be a resource. With the right structure, refinancing can reduce costs and open up liquidity for the next growth opportunity.

I am always looking to connect with business owners, investors, and partners who want to explore smart ways to maximize the value of their properties.

Let’s connect if you would like to start a conversation.

08/31/2025

When evaluating new financing, two simple but important areas to keep in mind are cash flow and personal credit.

For cash flow, one of the most common tools is the Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR):

DSCR = Net Operating Income ÷ Annual Debt Service

Example: If NOI is $1.0M and annual debt payments are $750k, the DSCR is 1.33x.

As a rule of thumb, a DSCR of 1.25x or greater is considered a healthy benchmark. Ratios below that don’t necessarily rule out financing, but they suggest cash flow is tighter and should be reviewed carefully.

Alongside DSCR, personal credit often plays a major role especially for privately held businesses. It reflects the owner’s track record of repayment and can influence access to terms and capital.

At the end of the day, strong cash flow and solid personal credit together form the foundation for securing new financing.

08/19/2025

Last week our team welcomed a new business relationship to the bank.

Through an operating cycle review, we analyzed their accounts payable and receivable to better understand how they currently operate. From there, we identified ways our solutions could fit into their processes to improve efficiency. This included treasury strategies to help them earn interest on idle balances, stronger fraud protection, and a rewards program that turns existing expenditures into meaningful extra income.

I’m proud of the way our team came together to deliver value quickly and show how the right banking partnership can strengthen a business.