Q: Every time I turn on the news, it seems like another bank is going under. The trouble is, I still need some place to put my company's money, and I may need to take out a loan to fund my business as it grows. Any advice on how to deal with the banks until this financial crisis blows over?

A: First, take a deep breath. Now exhale. Feel better? While the financial news may be scary, there's no reason to panic. The reality is that the money in your company's bank account is safe--at least, up to the $250,000 insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Check with your bank if you're unsure whether it's an FDIC-insured bank. So there's no sense locking your cash in a safe or stuffing it under your mattress.

As for borrowing money to grow your business, that may be another story. The SBA reported this month that the number of SBA-backed 7(a) loans dropped 30 percent in fiscal 2008. The total dollar amount backed by the SBA program fell to $12.67 billion, an 11 percent decline from the $14.29 billion in loans the SBA backed in 2007. The reason: Lenders tightening credit, and declining creditworthiness on the part of borrowers and small business owners; also, borrowers don't want to take on more debt in these uncertain times.

That said, banks are in the business of lending money, and there are some things you can do now to increase the chances your bank will loan you the money when you need it.

"Even if you don't think you need it today, have a conversation with your banker and start the paperwork for a small-business loan," says Margaret Prusan, founder and CEO of Illumin LLC, a Maplewood, N.J., consulting firm that helps women in professional and service businesses leverage their knowledge to make more money. "You can always choose to not submit the application, but the process can be time-consuming, so the best time to start preparing is now."

Prusan also advises business owners to open multiple accounts if their companies have more than $250,000 in cash in the bank and to talk to their bankers about giving them a better deal on fees by linking multiple accounts together.