Let’s say you’re a business owner and you’ve got a loan or a credit line with a bank in the South Sound. Let’s say that bank might be in trouble. And then you find out it’s really in trouble.

What do you next?

The state Department of Financial Institutions has developed a nice set of Frequently Asked Questions (with answers).

To see, click here or visit www.dfi.wa.gov/banks/business-loan-faqs.htm.

“We had so many issues after the Bank of Clark County, we really had to stop and evaluate - and have something proactive,” said Brad Williamson, head of the department’s banking division.

The questions range from “How would a bank failure - or a troubled bank - impact a business loan?” to “My bank has closed. How do I pay my loan? Can I draw on my business credit line?”

Or let’s say you have a verbal agreement with a bank, and that differs from the written loan documents or are not formally agreed to in writing. Should you be concerned in the event your bank fails?

Yes, you should.

The state employment numbers look good, but keep the champagne on ice.

Nobody says it’s a trend.

Seasonally adjusted employment in Washington grew by 4,000 jobs in July compared to June, this after June marked a decrease of 8,000
jobs.

The unemployment rate statewide decreased in July to 9.1 percent from a revised June figure of 9.2 percent.

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Good news for travelers flying over the coming Labor Day holiday: the crowds at the airport are expected to be down from last year.

The Air Transport Association is predicting that 16 million people will fly domestically during the holiday period. That's 3.5 percent fewer than last year.

Although the airports will be less jammed, don't expect to find many empty seats on the planes. Airlines have dropped capacity by 22 percent since 2000.

Airport Jobs, a free employment service for Sea-Tac Airport and its related businesses, is reporting visits to its Web site rose 42 percent in June compared with with same month last year.

But just 61 applicants were hired through the service in June 2009, 46 percent fewer than in the same month last year.

That's the bad news. The good news is that the hiring pace has freshened since it hit a low point in February, the airport reports.

To view jobs available at the airport and among nearby airport-related businesses visit the Airport Jobs Web site or call 206-835-7501.

Ten Washington shipyards, the most in any state, will receive a total of $7.38 million in federal stimulus aid, Sen. Patty Murray announced today.

The shipyards – none in Pierce County – will receive the money to augment their capabilities to produce new business.

The shipyard grants range from $1.95 million for Seattle's Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp., the state's largest to $73,780 for Port Angeles' Platypus Marine Inc.

The grants were part of a $98 million program for shipyards across the nation.

It's too early to call it a trend, state employment officials said this morning, but the numbers are interesting.

According to a release from the state Employment Security Department, Washington’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 9.1 percent in July, down from June’s revised rate of 9.2 percent.

The state gained an estimated 4,000 non-agricultural jobs over the month, seasonally adjusted.

“While today’s news is reassuring and indicates that the economy may be stabilizing, this does not mean the national recession is over,” Gov. Chris Gregoire said.

Industries with the most job growth included education and health services, with 4,400 new jobs, professional and business services, which added 2,100, and government, up 1,300. Most of the government additions were in local education and tribal employment, while state government employment fell by about 1,300.

Industries with the largest declines were in construction, which cut 3,200 jobs, financial activities, down 1,900, and manufacturing, which lost 900 jobs, the release said.

“The July numbers are further evidence that the recession is slowing, but it’s too soon to say whether we’ve turned the corner,” said Employment Security Commissioner Karen Lee. “We expect to see ups and downs for some time to come.”

This may seem a bit esoteric – unless you’re an official at Venture Bank or if you really enjoy reading regulatory filings – but for those of you who pay attention, there looked to be a new report yesterday from the DuPont-based Venture.

The Form 10-Q concerned being late with quarterly numbers.

The only problem was, well, the headline on the filing said it was Venture, but the CUSIP number was wrong and the filing was actually made on behalf of Longview-based Cowlitz Bancorporation.

A small slice of the financial blogiverse had some fun blaming Venture for the filing, but it wasn’t Venture that filed. All it took yesterday afternoon was a call to the bank to confirm.

So Cowlitz is taking an extension. Venture is still working on its numbers. Don’t believe everything you read online.