Helping manufacturers, distributors and operators benefit from new business opportunities.

In 1992, when the State of Louisiana legalized Video Poker, Firestone Financial saw a way to help its Louisiana customers.

This new legislation, which placed significant restrictions on operators, distributors and manufacturers alike, permitted establishments with a liquor license to have video poker machines. There were an estimated 6,000 liquor-licensed establishments that could apply.

We needed to understand the regulatory issues, assess the significant equipment needs, and process borrowing requests that exceeded the borrower's capacity based on historical results of operations and business capital, but we were up to the challenge.

We analyzed the value of the collateral, the future earning capacity of the equipment, the borrowers -- many of whom were existing customers -- and the involvement of the state government that regulated this business segment. We fashioned a finance program that addressed the needs of Firestone Financial's customers, distributors and manufacturers. Equipment finance terms that included delayed payments and no money down 100% financing (including freight and tax) were developed to help the operator with the initial startup costs and to conserve business capital.

With this innovative program, Firestone Financial financed over $14 million in Louisiana video poker equipment and did not incur any losses.

This is another example of how Firestone Financial understands your industry and creates successful financing programs that benefit everyone: the manufacturer, distributor and operator.