CLIENT RELATIONSHIP MANAGER 1

Role:

The Client Relationship Manager I develops, manages, and grows less complex business relationships within the communities served by the Bank. As the primary relationship owner for assigned clients and prospects, the role acquires and expands relationships, identifies needs across the Bank’s products and services, maintains a disciplined pipeline, and coordinates with product and credit specialists to deliver appropriate solutions. The employee independently underwrites and provides final approval for smaller loans within delegated lending authority, escalates requests exceeding delegated authority to the appropriate approval level, and administers assigned credit and non-credit relationships in accordance with established policies, procedures, approval authorities, and risk-management standards. 

Primary Responsibilities:

• Develop, acquire, and expand relationships with business owners, professionals, centers of influence, community organizations, existing clients, and prospects in support of the Banks goals for loans, deposits, fee income, retention, and fully banked relationships. 
• Serve as the primary relationship owner for assigned clients and prospects, using a consultative approach to identify needs, recommend appropriate deposit, treasury, merchant, card, trust, and lending solutions, and coordinate with branch teams and product specialists to support onboarding, servicing, issue resolution, and ongoing relationship development. 
• Maintain disciplined prospecting and relationship-management practices, including accurate client-contact, pipeline, referral, and follow-up records, pre-call planning, and timely post-call follow-up. 
• Build and maintain internal and external referral networks by representing the Bank in community and professional organizations, business events, educational programs, customer-appreciation activities, product promotions, and other business-development initiatives. 
• Identify, structure, independently analyze, underwrite, document, and approve less complex credit requests, including renewals and modifications, within delegated lending authority and in accordance with client needs, Bank policy, underwriting standards, pricing expectations, and applicable laws and regulations. 
• Submit requests exceeding delegated lending authority to the appropriate higher approval level, coordinate with Credit Administration or other credit partners when appropriate, present or support the presentation of requests when required, and communicate approved terms and conditions to clients. 
• Monitor assigned credit relationships, obtain required financial information, identify emerging concerns, and promptly escalate potential credit deterioration or policy exceptions to the appropriate manager or credit authority. 
• Comply with Bank policies, procedures, documentation standards, applicable laws and regulations, and customer-service expectations. 
• Perform special projects and other job-related duties assigned by management. 

Knowledge and Skills:

• Working knowledge of community-bank products and services, including business and consumer deposits, treasury services, merchant services, credit cards, trust services, and small-business lending. 
• Working knowledge of credit analysis, financial statements, business operations, loan structuring, documentation, applicable lending requirements, and risk indicators sufficient to independently underwrite and approve loans within delegated authority and collaborate effectively on requests requiring higher approval. 
• Strong consultative sales, prospecting, interviewing, negotiation, relationship-management, customer-service, and professional communication skills. 
• Strong organizational, time-management, pipeline-management, recordkeeping, and follow-through capabilities, with the ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, meet established goals, and operate within policy and delegated authority. 
• Ability to analyze market, economic, and competitive information and communicate relevant observations clearly to clients, colleagues, management, approval authorities, and business partners. 

Experience:

• Minimum of three years of banking experience, including at least two years in small-business development, relationship management, commercial lending, credit administration, or a comparable client-facing banking role. 
• Demonstrated business-development experience and the ability to manage a disciplined prospect and client pipeline. 
• Experience supporting or managing smaller and less complex business credit relationships is preferred. 

Education/Certifications/Licenses:

• Associate degree or completion of at least two years of college-level study in business, finance, accounting, economics, or a related field; equivalent relevant banking, lending, or sales experience may be considered. 

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

Work is performed in office and community settings and includes desk-based administrative duties, external business development, client meetings, and site visits. The position requires extended periods of sitting and computer use, as well as regular standing, walking, and driving. The employee must be able to lift up to 20 pounds. Frequent local travel within the Kansas City metropolitan area and occasional evening or weekend events may be required.