Small Business Month is here, and while some folks celebrate with generic social media posts, Redwood Credit Union is spotlighting the real deal—the local entrepreneurs who are actually building something worth talking about.
Take Linda Parks, for instance. The former owner of Lixit Corp. and Equitex decided to take a massive 50,000-square-foot warehouse (yes, you read that right) and turn it into something Napa didn’t even know it needed: Southgate Flex Building, a co-working and light industrial space where artists, makers, and small businesses can actually afford to do their thing.
Converting an old factory into a thriving community hub isn’t exactly a weekend project. Parks needed the kind of financial partner who wouldn’t make her jump through flaming hoops or spend three weeks just to talk to an actual human. Enter RCU.
“Redwood Credit Union is different,” Parks says. “I can pick up the phone and get help whenever I need it. I don’t come across that too often. For me, switching to RCU was a breeze. Great rates, amazing service. What more could you want from a financial institution?”
RCU helped Parks with competitive certificate and money market account rates, business insurance services, and a commercial real estate mortgage that’s currently in the works. You know, the boring-but-essential stuff that makes big dreams possible.
When Word-of-Mouth Actually Means Something
Parks didn’t find RCU through a Facebook ad. She got the recommendation from Laurie and Alonso Corona, Napa business owners who co-own Equitex with Ben Mendoza. If you’re not familiar, Equitex makes custom products for the high-end equestrian industry (think fancy horse gear), and they also run Napa Canvas, which creates awnings for homes and businesses.
The Coronas were already banking with RCU for their personal accounts, so when they formed an LLC to purchase Equitex, they knew exactly where to go.
“Based on my personal experience, I knew RCU would take the time to understand our business and develop real solutions,” Laurie Corona explains. “From the very first contact, I was connected with the right team and given genuine attention.”
That personal touch isn’t just nice—it’s practical. Corona says the RCU team regularly suggests products and services she hadn’t even considered, things that end up saving her business both time and money. When was the last time your bank proactively made your life easier?
Banking That Doesn’t Feel Like Banking
Here’s the thing about small businesses: they don’t need another vendor relationship. They need a partner who actually gets what they’re trying to build.
“Small businesses don’t just need financial products—they need a partner who listens and understands what they’re building,” says Steve Ward, SVP of Business Services at Redwood Credit Union. “Our goal is to make banking feel straightforward, personal, and supportive, so business owners can stay focused on what they do best.”
RCU backs this up with real credentials. They’re currently the #1 SBA 504 lender in the Northern California market and a Preferred SBA Lender, which means faster loan processing and local credit decisions. Translation: less waiting around, more getting stuff done.
Their Business Services team offers everything from everyday lending options to major commercial property purchases, with help available online or at any of their 22 branches across Northern California and the Bay Area.
More Than a Hashtag Holiday
Small Business Month might only last 31 days, but RCU supports over 21,000 local businesses year-round with deposit accounts, SBA loans, commercial lending, insurance, credit cards, merchant services, and financial guidance from teams who actually know the region.
Because real support for small businesses isn’t about one month of recognition—it’s about showing up when someone needs to transform a warehouse, buy their first business, or just talk through their options with someone who picks up the phone.
Now that’s worth celebrating.