Family Business Grows With the Right Partner

When a family-owned furniture store was ready to grow, Byline Bank was there to help finance the expansion while continuing to support the retailer’s day-to-day banking needs.

April 26, 2023

When Five Star Furniture first became a Byline Bank customer in 2010, it was a small, family-owned-and-operated furniture store. After the beloved owner died unexpectedly, his sons took over the business while still teenagers.

Since that time, with the partnership of Byline, Five Star Furniture has grown from a single location to five large retail stores throughout the Chicagoland area (in Burbank, Oak Lawn, Bridgeview and Arlington Heights, Illinois, and Merrillville, Indiana).

Owner Mahmood (Mike) Suleiman describes Byline’s customer service as being “unmatched.” As Five Star Furniture’s primary bank, Byline has supported the business over the years with various banking services, including a line of credit that helped fund their expansion. Mike consults with his local bankers almost daily on various topics including deposits, items processing and other services.

Mike says of running a business: “Family and friends are the most important thing in life. When you own a company, your family owns a company; you’re in it together and need to support each other.”

Here at Byline, we couldn’t agree more. We are honored to have Five Star Furniture as part of the Byline family of thriving small businesses.