If in doubt, consider asking your lending officer the following

• Why are you leaving your current organization?
• How and why do you like the new organization?
• What are the pluses and minuses as compared to the previous one?
• What products and services does your new organization offer? How different are they?
• Will you continue to be my primary contact at the new organization?
• Will you have qualified staff to ensure that my business is taken care of in your absence?
• How can you ensure a smooth transition?
• What guarantees are you able to offer for speedy and smooth transition?
• What’s the timeline to move my relationship?

Also, don't be afraid to ask yourself these same questions. Then, analyze the information and decide what's in your best interest. If you like everything you hear, one option is to sign up for only one or two services, such as a small line of credit or a deposit account, and test-drive it for a little while. If you are satisfied with the services offered, move to the next step of transferring your other accounts. If not, this experience may save you from a costly mistake.

Remember that moving your various loan and non-loan relationships takes time -- sometimes a lot of time -- and effort. Not everything always goes smoothly, which may impact your ability to service your customers or run your company well. What matters is your lender's ability to fix problems quickly. Above all, make sure that you have full faith and confidence in your lending officer's abilities and in what the new organization offers.

Even if you decide not to follow your lender, it is still a good opportunity to reevaluate your existing loan relationship and determine if you are satisfied. It might be time to look for a new service provider anyhow.