Q: What’s your experience (and preference) regarding brick-and-mortar and virtual banking?
Peggy Fiandaca
Owner & General Manager
LDV Winery
Sector: Wineries
We prefer virtual banking for all our business and personal needs. This includes payroll, deposits, managing multiple business and personal accounts, ordering checks, vendor payments, etc.
We run a retail business, but our price point is higher than some so the cash coming in is less than some food and beverage operations. LDV Winery is an estate winery, creating handcrafted wines that reflect the unique vineyard characteristics in Southeastern Arizona. The LDV Winery Tasting Room in Old Town Scottsdale is LDV’s primary retail location, where guests enjoy wine tastings, educational workshops, and light bites on the beautiful patio.
We do use a teller and/or night drop when we have higher-than-expected cash to deposit. Most of our entire operation, however, is fully digital/virtual when it comes to banking!
Peggy Fiandaca is owner and general manager of LDV Winery and is responsible for operations (vineyard and winemaking), marketing and retail, and overall business’s success. She makes final decisions in collaboration with the co-winemaker on the final formulas for all LDV wines. Fiandaca serves as the public face for the LDV brand, which includes social media, media relations, website, monthly blog, newsletters, podcast and video wine tips.
Shahe Koulloukian
Owner
Mazvo Car Care Center
Sector: Automobile Repair
Running an auto repair business for more than three decades has taught me one thing: Relationships still matter more than algorithms. At Mazvo Car Care Center, we’ve kept our business account with a local brick-and-mortar bank because that personal connection is priceless. When I walk in, they know my name and my business, and I can look someone in the eye when discussing transactions that keep our shop running.
There’s a level of trust you just can’t replicate with an AI chatbot or a 1-800 number. That said, I’m no stranger to the convenience of virtual banking — we use it for payroll and savings because efficiency has its place. But when it comes to the heartbeat of my business, I prefer the handshake over the hyperlink. For a service industry like mine, explaining the value behind every invoice or fee requires a real conversation, not another password reset.
Technology’s great — but relationships still sign the checks.
Shahe Koulloukian is the owner of Mazvo Car Care Center in Phoenix. With more than 43 years in the automotive industry, he’s built a reputation for educating and empowering customers through honesty, humor and expertise. He’s also the author of the best-selling book Car Confidential, a finalist for Author of the Year, and the host of podcast “The Car Confidential Show,” which focuses on car ownership empowerment.
Lisa Roux
Owner & CFO
Shooter’s World
Sector: Firearms
I like having a mix of both brick-and-mortar and virtual banking. At Shooter’s World, we manage a lot of moving parts — from retail and range operations to payroll and multiple business accounts — so flexibility is everything. I work with a large national bank, and having a personal relationship with my banker has been a huge advantage. When I can pick up the phone and talk to someone who truly understands our business, things get done faster and with more care.
At the same time, virtual banking has been a game-changer for our day-to-day needs. The speed, convenience and visibility it offers make managing cash flow and expenses much more efficient, especially across multiple locations.
In our industry, we’ve had to be thoughtful about who we bank with, since firearm-related businesses can face discrimination. That’s why I value working with a bank that focuses on partnership and trust — not politics — and truly supports responsible business owners committed to safety and community.
Lisa Roux is the CFO and co-owner of Shooter’s World, a premier indoor shooting range brand known for safety, education and community. With a background in finance and entrepreneurship, she leads with integrity and vision — creating spaces where customers feel welcomed, respected and empowered. Roux is passionate about growth, excellence and leaving every community she serves better than she found it.
