Private Banker - Columbus GA

Looking to join a Great Place to Work Employer and become a valued member of our growing team? At SmartBank, we're not just offering a job; we're inviting you to be a part of a culture built on excellence.

Position Summary:

This position creates and maintains close relationships with all parties involved in Bank relationships and helps facilitate sales through the structuring of creative and appealing products and services. The Private Banker should seek to become a key adviser to the client and the community. The Private Banker develops and manages relationships which meet the established requirements and provide maximum profitability to the Bank with minimum risk.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Uphold SmartBank Core Values and Core Purpose.
• Adheres to and embraces the SmartBank Way by Acting Smart, Looking Smart and Being Smart.
• Meets with prospects and existing clients regarding new loan requests, deposit accounts, and/or other products and services that provide a solution to the clients’ needs.
• Informs prospective clients of the financial institution’s underwriting guidelines and applicable government regulations.
• Personally interviews all loan and deposit applicants.
• Completes each loan application and all pre-processing functions in a timely manner. Gathers related financial and general business information, performs financial analyses needed to make credit decisions, participates in team credit decisions and communicates with prospects and customers to close sales.
• Analyzes the credit history of applicants and determines their loan repayment capabilities.
• Screens loan request based on financial institution policies and on types of loans offered by the institution.
• Communicates the need to order appraisals, credit reports, background checks, reference checks and other information as needed to the Loan Administrator on loan applicants.
• Responsible to monitor overall profitability of relationships and negotiates terms, fees, and structures to the mutual benefit of the client and SmartBank.
• Evaluates potential customer loan requests and makes loan recommendations to management. Reviews new laws and regulations that influence business lending within the financial institution and makes recommendations to management when necessary.
• Develops and retains customers, meeting with prospects and customers of moderate size and complexity in a designated region to achieve sales goal under limited supervision of more experienced personnel. Makes calls independently and may accompany more experienced personnel on larger account visits.
• Seeks to create full banking relationships: loans, deposits, treasury management, investment services, merchant services, and any other service the Bank may offer that meets the needs of the client or prospect.
• Based on the communicated sales goals, the Private Banker strives for a balanced approach to lending, deposit gathering, mortgage referrals, and fee income generation.
• Communicates complex approvals or denials to the borrower. Promotes and participates in the financial institution’s special credit programs and other CRA programs.
• Work closely with team of credit underwriters and analysts to ensure adherence to all credit policies and guidelines throughout sales and loan process.
• Proactively manages client relationship, including monitoring of overdrafts and past due loan accounts, and supports loan assistants and branch associates with exception clearing.
• Recommends and appropriately structures bank technologies and access for each client relationship.
• Meets with the team of private bankers and residential lenders on a routine basis to discuss topics pertinent to the business line.
• Actively promotes private banking products within their communities and networks.
• Continues developing growing network of outside referral sources for new business.
• Ensures that own work, as well as work of any associates supervised, is in compliance with applicable laws, regulations and guidelines.
• Develops new customer prospects and business for the financial institution.
• Conducts site visits to inspect collateral and/ or the operations of the borrower.
• Ensures the protection of SmartBank in lending transactions by inspection of closing documents and is also accountable for maintaining the integrity of the relationship.
• Personally answers incoming phone calls and schedules appointments.
• Complies with all applicable federal, state, and local banking and industry related laws and regulations including but not limited to the Bank Secrecy Act.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements and Qualifications:
Education:

• High School Diploma required.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance or management preferred.
• 5-10 years’ experience in banking or related field required.
• 3+ years in Private Banking preferred.

Training Requirements (licenses, programs, or certificates):

• Graduate School of Banking preferred
• State Association Lending School of Consumer Lending preferred
• RMA – Credit Risk Certification preferred
• Preferred Private bankers to hold the following licenses, or the ability to obtain:
  • Series 63: Known as the "blue-sky license," this certification allows individuals to sell securities within a specific state and ensures compliance with state laws.
  • Series 7: This license provides the authority to sell a wide range of securities across the entire United States, including stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, making it a comprehensive "general securities representative" license.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Underwriting knowledge, from origination to loan closing and construction draws.
• Excellent communications skills (written, verbal, listening).
• Detail- oriented and well-organized.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities and produce results.
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team
• Ability to handle frequent changes.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and adhere to the institution’s privacy policies.
• Ability to meet attendance standards and work overtime if needed.
• Creative/innovative problem solver
• High level of integrity.
• Self-motivated/takes initiative.
• Proficient level of computer competency including Microsoft Windows (Word, Excel, Outlook), typing proficient.
• Willing to accept new ideas and methods and be agreeable to change.

Work Conditions:

• Able to routinely stand, sit, bend and stoop.
• Frequently and regularly required movements using wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
• Average, ordinary, visual acuity necessary to prepare and inspect documents or products and operate machinery.
• Ability to hear average or normal conversations and receive ordinary information.
• May be required to travel to training sessions or meetings.