A Commercial Banker plays a crucial role in the financial sector, serving businesses of all sizes. From providing loans and credit facilities to offering expert financial advice, a Commercial Banker helps clients achieve their financial goals while ensuring the bank's profitability.
This job requires a blend of financial acumen, communication skills, and customer service orientation. In this detailed job description, we will outline the key responsibilities, qualifications, and skills essential for a successful Commercial Banker.
Whether you are an employer looking to fill this role or a candidate preparing for an interview, this template will provide valuable insights into the expectations and requirements of this position.
1. Assess clients' financial needs and provide suitable banking solutions.
2. Develop and maintain relationships with clients to ensure customer satisfaction and retention.
3. Analyze financial statements and credit reports to evaluate loan applications.
4. Prepare loan proposals and present them to lending committees for approval.
5. Monitor and manage existing client accounts, identifying opportunities for additional lending or services.
6. Stay updated with industry trends, regulations, and competitor offerings.
7. Collaborate with internal teams to enhance service delivery and streamline processes.
8. Ensure compliance with all banking laws and regulations.
1. Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
2. Proven experience as a Commercial Banker or in a similar financial services role.
3. Strong understanding of lending procedures, risk assessment, and financial analysis.
4. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for effective client interaction.
5. Proficiency in financial software and Microsoft Office suite.
6. Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
7. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
1. Financial Analysis: Ability to evaluate financial statements, credit reports, and other financial data.
2. Relationship Management: Skills in building and maintaining strong client relationships.
3. Sales Skills: Ability to identify clients’ needs and promote appropriate banking products.
4. Regulatory Knowledge: Familiarity with banking laws, regulations, and compliance requirements.
5. Attention to Detail: Ensure accuracy in all financial documents and communications.
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Key Responsibilities
1.
- •Conduct 8–12 client touchpoints per day (calls, emails, meetings) to resolve issues, surface new needs, and maintain retention above 95%. This keeps deposit and fee revenue steady and reduces attrition.
2.
- •Prepare and approve credit memos, analyze cash flow and DSCR, and set covenants for loans typically $250K–$5M. Monitor portfolio metrics weekly (past-due %, concentration by industry) to limit charge-offs to under 1% annually.
3.
- •Source new business to hit quarterly originations targets (e.g., $2M–$10M). Structure term and working capital facilities, price risk appropriately, and coordinate with legal to close deals within 30–45 days on average.
4.
- •Identify opportunities to place 20% of clients into treasury, merchant services, or FX products. Track product penetration metrics and run 1–2 campaigns per quarter to increase non-interest income.
5.
- •Ensure KYC/AML reviews, exceptions tracking, and regulatory reporting meet internal SLAs. Escalate material compliance issues to the CRO within 24 hours.
6.
- •Produce a monthly market brief with pricing trends, competitor moves, and industry stress signals. Use this to recommend pricing or credit-policy changes to limit sector exposure to a target (e.g., ≤15% of portfolio).
7.
- •Coach junior lenders on underwriting best practices, review at least 3 credit packages per month, and help reduce turnaround time by 20%.
Actionable takeaway: Prioritize daily client contacts and weekly portfolio reviews; allocate time for one strategic market analysis per month to protect and grow portfolio value.
Required Qualifications
Technical skills
- •Commercial credit analysis (must): Ability to build cash-flow models, calculate DSCR and leverage ratios; used daily for underwriting and covenant setting.
- •Financial modeling in Excel (must): Create 3–5 year forecasts and sensitivity scenarios; reduces decision time by up to 40%.
- •Loan structuring & documentation (must): Draft term sheets, amortization schedules, and familiarity with security instruments to speed closures.
- •CRM and pipeline tools (nice-to-have): Experience with Salesforce or nCino to manage 150–300 active prospects.
- •Regulatory knowledge (must): Understand KYC/AML, BSA, CRA basics to ensure compliance and avoid fines.
Soft skills
- •Communication (must): Present credit decisions and negotiate terms clearly with clients and credit committees.
- •Sales orientation (must): Target-driven, able to close deals that meet margin goals (e.g., target spread of 225–300 bps).
- •Attention to detail (must): Minimize documentation errors; aim for <2% rework on loan files.
- •Problem solving & judgment (must): Make quick credit decisions under uncertainty and escalate appropriately.
Education / Certifications
- •Bachelor’s in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related (must).
- •MBA or master’s in finance (nice-to-have) for advanced portfolio strategy roles.
- •Relevant certifications (nice-to-have): Commercial Lending Certificate, CFA Level I/II, CPA, or CRCM for compliance-focused roles.
Experience requirements
- •3–5 years in commercial lending or credit underwriting (must), with direct responsibility for a $5M+ portfolio.
- •Industry specialization (nice-to-have): Commercial real estate, manufacturing, or healthcare to shorten ramp-up time by 3–6 months.
- •Experience with SBA or syndicated loans (nice-to-have) for roles that require complex structuring.
Actionable takeaway: Hire for strong credit skills and client-facing sales ability; prioritize candidates with 3+ years of direct lending experience and proven portfolio outcomes.