Canadian Western Bank

💭 “How do I pick the right credit card for my business? Do I even need one?” These questions are hardly the ones that keep you up at night as a business owner, but they sure keep coming up when you consider the importance of optimizing your business and streamlining your cash management. And once you start thinking about it, more questions arise: 💳 Can I use a personal credit card for my business expenses? 🤔 What are the benefits of having a business credit card for my small business? 📍 What should I look for when choosing the right credit card for my business? Put a stop to your doubts and confusion surrounding business credit cards by reading our latest article: https://bit.ly/3V2z05C #BusinessFinance #CreditCard

Every year on World Autism Awareness Day, organizations and individuals come together to increase understanding of people on the autism spectrum and the variety of experiences and characteristics they share. This year, three of our employee represented groups (ERGs) joined forces to break the bias in autism discourse. Together, they learned the basics of assessment for this condition and where to go for more information. More importantly, they created a safe space to share personal stories that showcase the value that autistic perspectives bring to our families, workplaces, and communities. "This past Autism Awareness month was my first introduction to both CWB VIDA and CWB Noble. It was wonderful to see a space curated to be vulnerable, especially for those like myself who are navigating the workplace, seeking discussions with those facing the same issues and have questions. Before CWB, I never knew where to find a space like this and I felt isolated. But this past event showed me I am not alone. It merged two conversations that affect me, and I cannot wait to become more involved in future events like this one." Kay Brown, Banking Support Officer It’s the efforts of ERGs like CWB VIDA that are starting important conversations at CWB to help more #TeamTeal members and their families reach their full potential. If you want to take a deeper dive into unique intersectional experiences, consider one of the team’s favourite resources – a book called “Autistic and Black: Our Experiences of Growth, Progress and Empowerment” by Kala Allen Omeiza. Click here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/e7iJ--fp #ActFearlesslyforChange #AutismAwarenessMonth

💪 Keep your profit margins healthy with 6 expert tips! Are rising supplier costs, supply chain delays, and higher interest rates creating cost creep? Our experts have laid out 6 actionable steps to ensure your profits stay happy and healthy. Step 1: Set red flags and measure – Track costs using accounting software to detect any deviations. Benchmark against industry indicators and your historical data for insights into your business. Step 2: Collaborate to share costs – Strategic alliances and partnerships can lead to significant cost savings and new opportunities. Explore collaboration opportunities within your industry. Step 3: Lower variable costs – Source cheaper suppliers, renegotiate deals, or consider bulk-buying to reduce direct costs without compromising quality and customer experience. Step 4: Use government grants or subsidies – Explore financial assistance options available through national or provincial government initiatives to support your business. ️Step 5: Modify your business model or product – Consider shifting online, drop-shipping, or on-demand delivery to lower your delivery costs and expand your reach. Step 6: Reduce your overhead commitments – Identify and eliminate wasteful overhead costs, streamline operations, and consider sub-contracting to lower commitments. Read the full article for in-depth insights and expert guidance on every step and keep your profit margins in check! #BusinessTips #CostOptimization #ProfitGrowth https://bit.ly/4bDuro4

How do you know that your business is doing well? If your customers and partners are happy and your sales keep increasing, there is nothing to worry about, right? Not always true if you want to see consistent results and grow your business. Of course, no one wants to see sales decrease, but simply striving to increase sales may conceal tell-tale signs of future issues. For example, if you need to keep investing more money in raw materials and production to push sales, your expenses might spin out of control. Avoid unpleasant surprises by closely monitoring four key financial metrics: 1️⃣ Gross margin 2️⃣ Revenue from existing customers 3️⃣ Cash on hand to cover obligations 4️⃣ Your industry ratios Learn more about each metric, why they matter and what you can do to improve them in our article: https://bit.ly/3UWkXyM #BusinessFinances #FinancialMetrics

#CompassionConnects With all of life’s challenges, it’s easy to overlook that kindness and compassion are an integral part of our humanity. But compassion isn't just about being kind to others, it's about extending that same kindness to ourselves. Here is how three members of Health 360 – a CWB employee represented group that promotes self-care and mental health – take care of their physical and emotional wellbeing through yoga, meditation, and cycling: 🚴 “I find that riding a bike slows everything down and makes you aware of the details. It’s also good exercise and lets me unwind after a day at the office.” Robbie Stanger 🧘 “Yoga is one of my favourite ways to relax my body and mind. Slowing down, breathing, and focusing on letting go through yoga is a great brain detox and I always leave my class (at the studio or in my living room) feeling refreshed.” Carissa Rysko 🌱 “I find that yoga and meditation help me to refocus my thoughts, creates space from my daily tasks, and helps me feel a sense of calm, peace and balance within myself.” Viola Surowka Curious to learn more about self-compassion, take a deeper dive into creating compassionate workplace cultures and understand the impacts of compassion? Find more resources created by #MentalHealthWeek here: https://lnkd.in/gbzDbeBf  

⚠️ Phishing, pretexting, baiting, impersonation... Fraudsters keep coming up with new ways to scam you into sharing personal information and to get into your bank accounts. With new tools and technology appearing daily, it’s challenging to keep track of all fraudulent schemes that exist. Still, it’s important to know how to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your operations from getting scammed and losing your hard-earned money. One fraudulent investment scheme that has exploded in popularity owns a name as nasty as it sounds – pig butchering. According to estimates, #PigButchering scammers have stolen more than $75 billion from victims around the world using this type of fraud. That’s almost two thousand dollars for every person in Canada. Find out how this scam works and how to protect yourself in our most recent article: https://bit.ly/4dfcnSC Stay aware. Stay safe. #CyberSecurity #InvestmentScheme

One year ago, Brett and John from Odd Company Brewing were mustering the courage to take the leap to a second location. Having poured their hearts and souls into creating a unique product and experience for their customers, they outgrew the space of their first taproom quickly. And like many business owners, they were losing sleep over tough questions, the main being “Is it the right time to grow our business?” Today, from a safe distance of knowing that it was the right choice made at the right time, we look back to see how they made one of the most important decisions for their business. Read, watch, or listen to their story here: https://bit.ly/3J45Ay9 #businesspodcast #entrepreneurs #craftbeer #canadiancraftbeer #yegbeer #yegbrewing #yegsmallbusiness 

🏆 People-first culture + the best #TeamTeal = a Great Place to Work®! For the fifth year in a row, CWB has placed on the list of top 50 Best Workplaces in Canada, coming in at number 28. “Our values inspire our teams to go above and beyond for each other, our clients and our communities to create a workplace that now ranks among the best in Canada for half a decade,” says Chris Fowler, President and CEO, CWB Financial Group. This award demonstrates how dedicated our more than 2600 employees are to cultivating a people-first culture where diversity and inclusion are at the core of what we do and how we do it. Here’s to every #TeamTeal member who lives the strong values that encourage us to show up for ourselves, our partners and clients! 🥂 Read the full news release here: https://lnkd.in/gjrVFq9j #BestWorkplacesCa #gptw4all #GPTW

Is your career like a rock-climbing wall 🧗 or is it more like a running track 🏃♀️? No, this is not one of those personality quizzes that tell you which animal or TV character you are. It’s a question that can help you shape or shift your perspective when facing important career decisions. Many professionals think that once you pick a career path and take the first step, the only way is forward. However, in 2024, moving upward does not have to be your one and only goal. Instead, consider exposing yourself to as many opportunities as possible – some of which might mean taking a sidestep to promote better long-term outcomes – is the best way to approach your career. Curious to learn more about making informed career decisions? Want to advance your professional growth and reach your ambitious goals? On the heels our Waterstone Most Admired Corporate Culture Award, our talent acquisition experts share their advice here: https://bit.ly/3xQWGRh #HiringTrends #JobSearch

#TeamTeal, this award is yours! 👏 We’re proud to share that CWB has been named one of the Most Admired Corporate Cultures by Waterstone Human Capital, a unique recognition determined by a jury of our peers through a rigorous review and evaluation process. Wait, it gets better. This year, CWB is also being inducted into Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures™ Hall of Fame, a designation given to organizations that have won the award four times. But what helped us get here? 💪 Diverse teams that unleash new ideas, perspectives, and solutions. 📚 Learning and development resources, including coaching, career development and mentorship programs, available to all employees. 💙 Flexible benefit options to support the physical and mental health of our team members. 💬 Continuous feedback and listening programs that measure trust and engagement. 🤝 Extensive community partnerships that focus on promoting and enabling business. Today, our team is joining the Corporate Culture Summit in Toronto, followed by an inspiring celebration of the 2023 award winners. #TeamTeal, you are the heartbeat of CWB. Let’s keep raising the bar and finding new ways to provide great experiences to our clients, colleagues, and communities! 🎉 Watch this video to discover the secret ingredient of our award-winning culture (spoiler: it’s our people): https://lnkd.in/ga9HJTB8 #CanadasMostAdmired #CorporateCulture