“In business, relationships are everything,” said Angelo Lollino, president and founder of Alamode Foods. Looking back at his career — growing up working for the family restaurant, setting off with his brother to start their own business, and growing it into Vero Coffee & Gelato and Massa Pizza Co., Massa Café, and Gringo & Blondie, run by more than 50 employees and multiple generations of their family — the focus on family and relationships came naturally.

“What more important relationship is banking, right? That financing to grow your business. It was important to me to have a strong relationship with my banker.”

So when Lollino’s former bank began to doubt the future of his company as it grew, he took it personally.

“It was depleting to me,” he explained. “It was almost like we were being treated like a commodity. It was a monetary thing; it wasn’t that personal connection.”

SUPPORT FROM DAY ONE

Fortunately, Peter Volpe, market president at Wintrust Bank, Norridge/Mont Clare, was able to help. After becoming a patron at two Alamode Foods restaurants near Volpe’s home, he was introduced to Lollino and developed a friendship and a decade-long banking partnership.

When Lollino switched to Wintrust, he saw firsthand how the right banking relationship could make all the difference. When Lollino wanted to expand, Volpe brought his small business team in to get to know the business.

“They supported us from day one,” Lollino explained. “They came in, they looked at our books, they asked questions, they took a hard look at our business and what we were doing, and gave us the support we needed, there was never a question there. Wintrust gave us that personal touch. They gave us the support we needed and the knowledge; they gave us a multitude of options when it came to lending and supporting our business.”

EXPERTISE AND MUSCLE WITH A PERSONAL TOUCH

“The nice thing about Wintrust is that you get that small community neighborhood feel, that personal touch,” Lollino explained. “They’re there when you need them, but they have the muscle of a big national brand.”

“We have like values,” Volpe explained. “That’s a great dynamic in our relationship. And over time, we’ve shown that we’re dependable, reliable, and have the resources he needs.”

Volpe credits his talented team and Wintrust’s variety of financial solutions and community bank philosophy with the successful Alamode Foods partnership. However, how Volpe conducts business — listening to customers, getting to know their businesses, and being fair and honest — allows him to develop solid and successful relationships with his clients.

“I always want to be top of mind,” he explained. “When there’s a banking need, I want (my clients) to say, ‘Wintrust is a place I can go to. I know there are people there with the expertise and the talent that can help me out, and I know they’re going to provide me with what I need, not what they want to sell me.’”

DIFFERENT APPROACH, BETTER RESULTS™

Your business brings something different to the world. So should your bank. Reach out to our team to learn how we can partner with you and help you reach your goals.

To hear from Wintrust customers about how the right banking partner makes all the difference, visit wintrust.com/success