Redwood Credit Union celebrates local entrepreneurs during Small Business Month

A Napa co-working space brings together small businesses, artists, and makers

NAPA, Calif., May 8, 2026 — During Small Business Month, Redwood Credit Union (RCU)—a full-service Northern California and Bay Area credit union providing personal and business banking services—celebrates the local businesses driving economic growth and shaping community development.

One of those businesses is the co-working and light industrial space Southgate Flex Building in Napa, created by former owner of Lixit Corp. and Equitex, Linda Parks. She transformed a 50,000-square-foot warehouse that once housed a factory into a co-working space for artists, makers, and small businesses.

New business member Parks says RCU has been there to support her every step of the way during her transition, offering competitive certificate and money market account rates, business insurance services, and a commercial real estate mortgage that’s currently in process.

“Redwood Credit Union is different,” she says. “I can pick up the phone and get help whenever I need it. I don’t come across that too often. For me, switching to RCU was a breeze. Great rates, amazing service. What more could you want from a financial institution?”

Parks was referred to RCU by Napa business owners Laurie and Alonso Corona, who co-own Equitex with Ben Mendoza. Already RCU members for their personal banking, the Coronas turned to RCU again after forming an LLC to purchase Equitex, which creates custom products for the high-end equestrian industry, and Napa Canvas, which makes awnings for homes and businesses. “Based on my personal experience, I knew RCU would take the time to understand our business and develop real solutions,” Laurie Corona says. “From the very first contact, I was connected with the right team and given genuine attention.”

That relationship-driven approach continues to set RCU apart. “It’s important to me to work with people who take the time to understand my business and offer solutions that support our goals,” Corona says. “The RCU team consistently goes above and beyond—often suggesting products and services I hadn’t considered that ultimately save my business time and money.”

Redwood Credit Union’s Business Services team offers a full suite of lending options supporting everyday purchases up to large commercial property purchases, with personalized assistance also available online or in one of RCU’s 22 branches. RCU is currently the #1 SBA 504 lender in the Northern California Market and a Preferred SBA Lender, enabling faster SBA loan processing and local credit decision-making for small businesses in Northern California and the Bay Area.

“Small businesses don’t just need financial products—they need a partner who listens and understands what they’re building,” says Steve Ward, SVP of Business Services at Redwood Credit Union. “Our goal is to make banking feel straightforward, personal, and supportive, so business owners can stay focused on what they do best.”

Throughout Small Business Month and year‑round, RCU proudly serves more than 21,000 local businesses and offers a full suite of business banking services, including deposit accounts, SBA loans, commercial lending, insurance, credit cards, merchant services, and financial guidance from local teams.

About Redwood Credit Union

Founded in 1950, Redwood Credit Union is a full-service, not-for-profit financial institution providing personal and business banking to consumers and businesses in the North Bay and San Francisco. With a mission to passionately serve the best interests of its members, team members, and communities, RCU delivers many ways for its members to save and build money through checking and savings accounts, auto and home loans, credit cards, digital banking, business services, commercial and SBA lending, and more. Wealth management and investment services are available through Redwood Wealth Management, and insurance and auto-purchasing services are also offered through RCU Services Group (RCU’s wholly owned subsidiary). RCU ended March at $9.9 billion in assets and $12.7 billion in assets under management and serves more than 530,000 members with full-service branches from San Francisco to Ukiah. For more information, call 1 (800) 479-7928, visit redwoodcu.org, or follow RCU on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn for news and updates.

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