Center for Family-Owned Businesses

1 Technology

Stablecoins and the Future of Payments

If you’ve been hearing more about stablecoins lately, you’re not alone. In just a few years, these digital dollars have moved from the fringes of finance into a fast‑growing part of the global payments landscape. For family businesses—where cash flow and liquidity matter every single day—the rise of stablecoins is worth understanding.

First Bank supports clients as new financial tools emerge and aims to help our clients understand how these tools function. This overview explains how stablecoins work, how they are used today, and what matters most for businesses that operate in fast-changing markets.

2 Stewardship

A Walk in the Vineyard: Lessons in Stewardship

"A Walk in the Vineyard" written by Dariusz Duma

Introduction by Michael Dierberg, Chairman of First Bank

In November this past year, I was fortunate to host family businesses from around the world before joining them and others at an international family business conference in Miami. Getting to know these family businesses made me very appreciative of some of things that we sometimes take for granted here in the US. For example, here in the US, we don’t have to worry about the government confiscating our businesses, whereas that has been a real threat in other parts of the world and has influenced some of the choices these families have made. Furthermore, I spent time with a number of family businesses from Eastern Europe, all of which became family businesses after 1989 – the year the Wall came down and free enterprise became a reality in Eastern Europe. 

While some things are very different across the globe, others are very much the same. This includes the importance of stewardship, which I have written about before. But nothing I wrote, or have read up until now, compares to the eloquence and thoughtfulness of the words shared by a Polish family business owner, Dariusz Duma, who visited our family’s winery and reflected on the 250-year vision my dad laid out for our winery. His thoughts on the value of taking the long view as a steward rather than the quickest route, are translated in "A Walk in the Vineyard." Click the link below to read the full article by Dariusz Duma.

3 Business Strategy

Captive Insurance: A Smarter Way to Take Control of Rising Costs

In a rising cost environment, companies are seeking innovative ways to manage their insurance costs. One approach gaining traction is the establishment of a captive insurance company. Rather than relying solely on the traditional commercial insurer market, a captive is a legal entity formed to insure the risk of a parent company, a number of affiliates, or unrelated third parties. This method offers a tailored approach for organizations to gain greater control, insights into fee transparency, and the potential to reduce long-term insurance costs.