Representatives from Charter One, National City, Huntington and Key banks had a simple message for manufacturers -- the money is out there, but it's easier to get for some businesses than others.
Krizman: "Certainly the loans are being made."
That's Greg Krizman from Magnet Innovation Center. He says prospects are best for businesses that are unrelated to car-making.
Krizman: "In Northeast Ohio there are many manufacturers in non-auto related industries that are doing very well. For the companies in the auto-related industries, it's a matter of really getting the banker and the customer and the client to get to know each other, so that the bankers understand every facet of the business."
In other words, lenders are very risk-averse when it comes to the auto industry.
During the 1990s, banks had a goal of increasing their commercial loans by 12 percent. Now those same banks are telling customers about any loans they can get -- if they can't make the deal.
Krizman says everyone is just hoping to buy time until things turn around.
Kymberli Hagelberg, 90.3