Tough to Relate: Banks Should Take Better Care of Their Best

It's amazing how many of my friends had 15 year mortgages and are paying on time, but maybe business took a bit of a hit or they had to pay off certain things and they can't refinance their house into 30 year mortgages. I understand the banks' mentality when underwriting loans, but it would seem logical that when banks preach "relationship" and someone who has banked with you for years and maybe owes 50% on their house and would need some help in making their loan a 30 year instead of 15 year, they would be willing to listen.

After all, it may be for good reasons, such as paying down other debt or helping during a job loss or business slow down. However, I've had friends go to their banks and ask and the banks say "no, sorry." So much for relationships. Granted, I am not an owner of a bank (yet) and I understand business decisions are business decisions, but it's concerning that every time a bank tries to get my business, itcan't stop using the word "relationship." It's as if they get a bonus each time they say it to me. 

Even on the commercial side. We have some apartment buildings that need some work. We are all current on our mortgages. I recently asked if I could go to an interest-only payment on one of my mortgages so I could use the extra money to upgrade units that were needed in that building. A resounding "no." That's fine.  Again, it is business and they made a decision. But in this economy where many commercial mortgages are going under and my payment is automatically withdrawn from my account on the first of each month, you would think a bank would encourage its owners to put money into their properties. 

Maybe I just uncovered a market for this? Granted, it would have to be very specific and you would have to know your borrower. A part of me thinks there would have to be some sort of escrow account held that would be released by the bank upon proof of work being done or bills being paid off.