Chief Banking Officer

Sauk Valley Bank•Sterling, IL

About The Position

The Chief Banking Officer (CBO) serves as a key strategic leader, providing the vision, direction, and enterprise-wide growth strategy needed to advance Sauk Valley Bank’s mission of delivering an exceptional, high-touch customer experience. This role ensures the bank maintains strong operational controls, effective reporting, and a disciplined approach to growth. The CBO builds and empowers high-performing teams, ensures the right talent and systems are in place to support expansion, and balances hands-on leadership with strategic foresight. This leader is also responsible for championing a culture of compliance, ensuring adherence to all SVB policies as well as state and federal regulations. Through innovative thinking, strong execution, and a deep commitment to customer delight, the CBO plays a critical role in shaping the bank’s success and long-term impact.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance or a related field
10+ years of experience in the banking or financial services industry, including proven leadership in strategic planning business development.
Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and decision-making skills; ability to manage change and execute long-term strategies.
Demonstrated ability to develop teams, manage complexity, foster collaboration, and drive organizational culture
Proven track record of success in leadership as a senior executive
Thorough understanding of banking regulations, risk management and compliance requirements
Proven ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities
The incumbent must be able to perform this position safely, without endangering the health or safety to him/her or others.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Business Administration, Finance or related field a plus but not required

Responsibilities

Develop and execute strategic plans to drive deposit growth across all customer segments
Collaborate with senior leadership to set annual business objectives, branch and department performance targets, and market expansion strategies
Evaluate market trends, customer needs, and competitive positioning to identify new opportunities for growth
Foster a relationship-driven culture rooted in delighting the customer, trust, and long-term customer partnerships
Promote collaboration across business lines to deliver a seamless, unified experience for customers at every touchpoint
Drive training, coaching, and recognition that reinforce a culture of exceptional service and accountability
Lead and inspire a high-performing team, fostering a culture of creativity, accountability, and purpose-driven execution, while developing future leaders and succession plans
Assure the marketing team’s support of all communities and product channels of the bank.
Assist with the initiatives to enhance the bank’s reputation as a trusted, community-focused financial partner
Partner with the commercial lending team and market leadership to grow treasury relationships and deepen existing customer engagement
Lead and enhance the private banking/wealth service model focused on high-net-worth individuals, centers of influence and business owners
Oversee all aspects of consumer banking, including branch operations, customer experience, sales performance, staffing, training, and electronic banking adoption
Build and strengthen partnerships with community organizations, local business leaders, and advocacy groups to support and empower the bilingual community