By Eduardo Hornero – Senior Vice President, Middle Market Lending, Popular Bank

Midsize companies are feeling the heat of today’s unpredictable global trade environment, nervous about potential tariff changes and supply chain curveballs. Finding ways to stay efficient and profitable while navigating uncertainty isn’t easy, but it is doable. Access to smart financing and a reliable banking partner can help you move quickly when things change. A relationship manager with local market knowledge can develop solutions specific to your business needs and provide alternatives to costly options like switching suppliers or restructuring operations.

Supply chain vigilance is the new normal.

Middle market companies – those with annual revenues between $10 million and $1 billion –find themselves in a tough spot. As larger, often multinational enterprises, such companies have outgrown the advantages of SBA loans and other programs geared towards small businesses. At the same time, they cannot pivot their operations to offset tariff fluctuations. A new tariff can turn a well-oiled supply chain into a cost center overnight. Things can get even trickier amidst today’s macroeconomic uncertainty. The businesses that come out ahead are the ones that treat their banks like strategic partners—not just loan providers—so they can adjust fast when the market shifts.

More than a loan: Lending that helps you move fast.

Basic or bridge loans and credit lines are useful, but sometimes customers need to act quickly and those won’t cut it. A savvy banking partner can help you find a solution that will alleviate the short-term financial pressure. We’ve seen more midsize companies turn to financing tools built for agility, including:

Trade finance

Letters of credit to make it easier to bring on new suppliers without taking on too much risk.

Inventory financing

Stocking up to make sure you have enough product for your busy season? Certain options let you borrow against your inventory to free up cash without overloading your balance sheet.

Equipment financing

Want to ramp up production in a new region or invest in automation to lower costs? These facilities help you do that without waiting years to free up capital.

A smarter banking relationship.

In my experience, successful companies don’t wait until there’s a crisis to talk to their banker. At Popular Bank, our middle-market relationship managers know their customers’ business inside and out —and can help spot risks and opportunities before they show up in the numbers.

We can help you stay on top of changing regulations and market trends you might not be tracking. We can also help build credit solutions that adjust as your needs shift—whether that’s seasonal inventory spikes or changing supplier terms.

Financial flexibility is your superpower.

Making your supply chain more resilient isn’t just about finding backup suppliers. It’s about having a Plan B and being able to act on it fast. That means having the right credit facilities and banking relationships already in place—so you’re not scrambling for cash or approvals when things suddenly change.

Can your current financing scale up quickly if needed? Is it built for operations that will help you succeed? And most importantly—is your banker there just to lend or do they understand your industry and advise you on your next steps?

What’s next?

Trade policy has always been a complex issue, and we don’t expect it to get simpler anytime soon. At the same time, supply chain challenges aren’t going away either. The companies that stay ahead will be the ones with financial systems that enable them to shift gears quickly. That starts with a reliable banking partner that values your relationship and helps you not only access capital but use it strategically.

Market uncertainty is not new, and disruptions are likely to keep coming. The question is, will you be ready to turn them into an advantage?

A version of this article was previously published in the South Florida Business Journal.