Shifting from paper checks to alternative payment methods: Is your business ready? 

The U.S. Treasury is ending paper checks — here’s what you need to know Starting September 30, 2025, the U.S. Treasury will officially stop issuing paper checks for federal payments, including vendor disbursements, tax refunds and benefit payments. This move is part of a broader effort to reduce fraud, increase efficiency and support the ongoing […]

August 12, 2025

Don’t let holiday scams steal your cheer: How to stay safe this season

The holiday season is filled with celebrations and time to unwind with family and friends. But it also offers more ways to shop, give and travel, creating opportunities for scammers to steal personal and financial information. Fraud isn’t just growing — it’s getting smarter. In 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported record-breaking losses — […]

December 18, 2025

Is your business prepared for the fraud you don’t see coming?

Nearly 8 in 10 organizations were targeted by payment fraud last year – and most didn’t recover their losses. For many business owners, payment fraud still feels like something that happens to someone else. Until it happens to you. The truth is, fraud isn’t just growing – it’s getting smarter. Sophisticated tactics like altered checks, […]

December 19, 2025

Strengthening ACH fraud detection: What businesses need to know about Nacha’s 2026 rule changes

ACH (Automated Clearing House) payments are a vital part of how businesses pay employees, vendors and partners. As usage has grown, so have fraud attempts targeting ACH transactions – especially scams like business email compromise (BEC), vendor impersonation and payroll redirection. To address these risks, Nacha announced new Risk Management Rules effective March 20th, 2026. […]

January 13, 2026

Customer spotlight: Reimagining what’s possible in commercial real estate financing

Across Chicago, Milwaukee and communities throughout the Midwest, vacant commercial buildings tell two stories: one of shifting markets – and one of opportunity. Former gyms, restaurants and big-box stores sit empty, waiting for the right vision to give them new purpose. Successful redevelopment requires more than capital. It requires a commercial real estate partner who […]

March 6, 2026

Customer Spotlight: Beyond the Numbers – How a multi-generational family business found a true banking partner for growth 

Benz Metal Products has always prioritized relationships and connections over transactions. It’s the foundation of their business. The Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, metal fabrication company, now led by third-generation owners Jake, Joe and Jason van der Kooy, has built its reputation on trust and long-term partnerships. Every team member plays a role in building and maintaining […]

Founder reflections: A 20-year journey in relationship banking

When Signature opened its doors in August 2006, three entrepreneurs set out with a clear and somewhat unconventional vision: build a commercial financial institution rooted in relationships – not transactions. Mick O’Rourke, Kevin Bastuga and Bryan Duncan were seasoned commercial bankers, but they were entrepreneurs at heart. They raised capital, wrote a business plan and […]

What does modern banking look like? Personal relationships, powered by innovation.

Businesses manage money differently than they did a decade ago. As operations have evolved, so have expectations. Faster payments, real-time cash visibility and stronger fraud protection are no longer optional; they are essential to staying competitive and secure. Yet modern banking isn’t defined by technology alone. It’s defined by how technology enables stronger client relationships. […]

Community roots, lasting impact

Since 2006, Signature has supported more than 1,000 organizations while strengthening the communities it serves When Signature was founded in 2006, its mission centered on building meaningful relationships with business owners and entrepreneurs. But from the beginning, our founders also believed a strong bank should contribute to something larger than its balance sheet. Communities thrive […]

April 17, 2026

Signature Marks 20 Years of Relationship-Driven Banking

Signature, a division of Esquire Bank, is celebrating 20 years of serving privately held businesses, their owners and their families, marking two decades of relationship-driven banking that began in Chicago in 2006 and has grown into one of the Midwest’s fastest-growing commercial banking franchises. “Twenty years ago, we set out to build a different kind […]

May 20, 2026