Equipment Finance Industry (EFI) Ready


We provide strategic support to community bank CEOs and its executive officers aimed at developing an entry strategy into the equipment finance industry.

We work with bank CEOs to identify sectors and scenarios most appropriate for your bank, analyze and advise on M&A scenarios, develop strategic & operational plans, and monitor, advise, and assist in the implementation.

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What to Expect

Step 1: Identify Target Criteria


In this crucial first step we focus on education and assessment of the bank’s readiness, intentions, advantages, and limitations.

We educate your team on the most appropriate leasing segments and environments, including size, characteristics, opportunities, and risks. And we provide an in-depth presentation on the scope of the equipment leasing and finance industry as it relates to your bank’s current situation, culture, and likely paths towards a successful industry entry.

Step 2: Find and Evaluate the Targets


During this phase we take an honest look under the hood, with a goal towards finding alignment between your bank, its goals, and potential M&A targets or other program development models.

We develop an analysis of the sectors that are most appropriate, determining best fit business model options for the bank based on our work together.

We’ll evaluate options such as the purchase of an existing operation vs build or lift out, whether a capital market model should be pursued, and compare market approaches like regional vs national, and if vertical or specialty markets are at play.
We disqualify options that aren’t a fit, then build financial impact scenarios, proforma P&Ls, credit metrics, and define strategic, operational, and compliance requirements.

Step 3: Make a Move


Once we arrive at our top two modality preferences together, the Rinaldi Advisory Services® (RAS) team begins to explore your equipment leasing ecosystem. Our deep network, knowledge, and resources identify and engage the targets that meet the defined criteria.

Step 4: Get it Done


RAS then arranges meetings—either in-person or video—to introduce you and the target principals/teams. We press forward to develop an unsolicited letter of intent. This is an iterative process until we arrive at an executed LOI. RAS stays engaged as your buy-side advisor from due diligence to close.

Success Stories

First Commonwealth Bank Enters Equipment Finance Business

Sourced, developed and implemented a “lift-out” for First Commonwealth Bank’ Equipment Finance Division (~$8 Billion in Assets)

Peoples Bank acquisition of North Star Leasing

Due Diligence for Peoples Bank of Marietta, Ohio (~$5 Billion in Assets) in their acquisition of North Star Leasing

Launch of equipment finance division for Trustmark National Bank

Engaged by Trustmark to develop and implement their denovo entry into the Equipment Leasing & Finance Market

Ready to discuss how the value of our experience can add to your leadership team?