In Brief: Star to Help Ohio Firms Do More Business Abroad

Star Bank is joining forces with the Cleveland World Trade Center to help small and medium-size companies in northern Ohio expand business internationally.

Christopher R. Jones, manager of Star Bank's global services division in northern Ohio, said the two institutions will jointly sponsor international business seminars and matchmaking meetings among visiting foreign businesses, government officials, and local companies.

The Cleveland World Trade Center helps companies with international marketing assistance by providing members with daily trade leads, foreign market research, trade statistics, and local contacts overseas in order to identify international business opportunities. The Cleveland-based association is part of a network of more than 330 world trade centers in over 90 countries.

Star Bank, the main banking unit of $17 billion asset Star Banc Corp., has 452 branches in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee.