Small Business Relationship Banker

Overview

The Small Business Relationship Banker (SBRB) is an embedded business growth banker within the branch, focused on developing, retaining, and deepening relationships with small business customers. This role combines consultative relationship management, proactive outreach, community engagement, and universal banker responsibilities to deliver a full-service experience for business and consumer customers.

Approximately 60% of the role is dedicated to small business relationship development, including portfolio deepening, customer outreach, business needs discovery, referral partnership, and local community engagement. The remaining 40% supports universal banker responsibilities, including transactions, servicing, account opening, operational support, and customer problem resolution.

The SBRB serves as the branch’s small business champion, partnering closely with the Branch Manager, Business Development Officer, and internal business partners to identify opportunities, support customer growth, and strengthen BankNewport’s presence in the local small business community.   

Responsibilities

Small Business Relationship Development, Approximately 60%

• Manage and deepen an assigned portfolio of existing small business customers within the branch customer base. 
• Conduct proactive customer outreach and relationship reviews to identify deposit, lending, treasury, merchant, digital banking, and personal banking opportunities. 
• Use a needs-based discovery process to understand each customer’s business, goals, challenges, cash flow needs, and growth opportunities. 
• Develop and deepen small business relationships in partnership with the Branch Manager and the Business Development Officer assigned to the branch. 
• Contribute to the growth of a profitable loan portfolio by originating or referring applications for small business customers, as appropriate. 
• Partner with Business Development Officers, Commercial, Wealth, and other internal partners to deliver coordinated recommendations and a strong customer experience. 
• On occasion, conduct joint outside sales calls and customer meetings with branch leadership and business banking partners to support small business outreach. 
• Build a disciplined outreach plan using CRM, onboarding activity, customer insights, branch referrals, and market opportunities. 
• Serve as the branch’s small business champion by helping team members recognize business customers’ needs and referral opportunities. 
• Support and participate in local community endeavors, networking opportunities, chamber events, and business-focused community activities to promote BankNewport. 

Universal Banker Responsibilities, Approximately 40%

• Provide best-in-class customer experience by accurately processing transactions, opening accounts, and servicing customer needs in a timely and professional manner. 
• Support business and consumer customers with account maintenance, digital banking guidance, problem resolution, and general banking questions. 
• Conduct financial conversations with customers to identify needs and match those needs with appropriate BankNewport solutions. 
• Meet individual and branch goals through high-quality customer interactions, proactive follow-up, and relationship-building activities. 
• Fully adopt and utilize the customer relationship management system and onboarding process to deliver strong internal and external customer experiences. 
• Demonstrate ownership of customer issues by using available resources, following up, and ensuring effective resolution and customer satisfaction.  
• Participate in select operational tasks; however, operational ownership should be lessened versus a Senior Relationship Banker role due to the dedicated small business development focus. 
• Adhere to all bank policies and procedures, audit, regulatory and security guidelines.
• The SBRB will participate in a Retail Incentive Program based on the “SBRB incentive plan” components focused on deepening and growth within the book of business, with an individual and team based eligible payout.

SUPERVISORY SCOPE:

No supervisory responsibility

INDEPENDENT ACTION:

Performs work within established guidelines and according to specific procedures. Refers complex problems, exceptions, or escalations to the immediate supervisor or appropriate business partner. 

Qualifications

• 2-3 year experience as a banker, or equivalent retail sales or banking experience required; customer service experience and needs-based banking sales preferred.
• Must be proficient in and experience with working with small business customers, specifically to advise on their banking and lending needs.
• Must be willing to do small business customer outreach, experience is preferred.
• Must be proficient with technology and digital banking services; Microsoft Office, specifically word and excel and possess familiarity with technical devices including tablets and smartphones.
• Must have excellent customer service, communications, problem solving and organizational skills.
• Must be willing to participate/attend community events
• Must be able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Must be a team player.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Any physical demands or work conditions described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable Accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  Employees need to have the ability to:

• Travel independently to the position’s primary work location, other bank properties and work-related activities or events at locations outside the Bank.
• Effectively communicate and exchange accurate information and ideas so others will understand.
• Independently 0perate a computer and other office machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, printer and software programs related to the position needed to complete the primary functions.
• Sit or stand at a workspace and use a computer or other equipment for prolonged periods of time.
• Move office items weighing up to 35 pounds.
• Work in an environment with low to moderate noise levels
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, and move throughout the office during the workday.
• Ability to move office supplies, mail trays, packages, and materials as needed.
• Comfort working in shared office areas, conference rooms, supply spaces, and mailroom environments.
• Ability to safely use standard office equipment and follow workplace safety procedures.

BANKNEWPORT CORE VALUES

• We celebrate individuality
• We empower employees to be creative problem solvers
• We invest and take the time to really get to know our customers
• We commit to serving the financial needs of Rhode Islander’s

Any physical demands or work conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

BankNewport is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, military service, marital status, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.