A friend in Boston just told me about a creative approach to financing in this topsy-turvy world of late, brought to you by the intrepid uber-entrepreneur, Sir Richard Branson. Virgin Money operates on all levels of finance for a multitude of needs including mortgages, seller financing, small business and even student loans. The idea is to eliminate the bank and make all elements of the process a more informal affair. With the level of creativity required to keep deals going forward, this may be one approach that fits the bill.