Small Business Banker

Simmons Bank•Houston, TX

About The Position

The Small Business Banker serves as a market-based relationship manager and subject matter expert, supporting the delivery of small business banking solutions through the retail channel. The role owns, grows, and retains the largest small business relationships within the Simmons footprint, generally focused on relationships of $1 million or greater. It also prospects locally for new large small business clients and partners with Financial Center Managers, retail bankers, and business line partners. The banker supports local Financial Center Managers with complex small business opportunities and acts as the primary point of contact for larger small business clients and a consultative resource for branch teams. The position supports the bank’s transition from a transaction-focused model to a deposit-gathering and small business growth model. It delivers tailored solutions across deposits, lending, treasury management, and fee-based services; assesses business financials and creditworthiness; and collaborates with underwriting partners to structure and execute lending solutions.

Requirements

Strong consultative sales and relationship management ability.
Ability to translate complex financial concepts into client-friendly solutions.
Skill in partnering with and influencing retail and business line teams.
Strong pipeline management and execution discipline.
Excellent communication and presentation skills.
Proficiency with CRM and lead management systems for tracking pipeline, referrals, and client interactions.
Experience using retail and commercial banking systems for account servicing, onboarding, and relationship management.
Ability to navigate digital banking platforms, including online banking, treasury portals, and client-facing tools.
Familiarity with lending platforms and credit systems for underwriting, loan structuring, and deal tracking.
Ability to interpret financial spreads, credit memos, and borrower analytics using internal tools.
Working knowledge of SBA-related systems and workflows.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint.
Comfort using dashboards and reporting tools to track productivity and client trends.
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent experience, preferred.
3–7+ years of experience in business banking, commercial banking, or small business lending.
Proven track record of generating deposit and loan growth within a client portfolio.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while managing competing priorities, complex stakeholder needs, and transformation-related change.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
Experience working with business financial statements and underwriting processes.
NMLS qualification or ability to obtain it.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary relationship manager for the largest small business client relationships in the assigned geographic area, generally those of $1 million or greater.
Build, expand, and retain a portfolio of larger small business relationships through proactive outreach, local market presence, and consultative selling.
Deliver tailored solutions across deposits, lending, treasury management, and fee-based services.
Advise clients on growth opportunities and risk management.
Partner with Relationship Bankers and branch teams on customer conversations, referrals, and client transitions when relationship complexity or opportunity size warrants direct involvement.
Guide branch teams on needs-based discovery, financial analysis, and product positioning for small business clients.
Serve as an escalation and expertise point for complex or larger small business opportunities within retail, including opportunities identified by local Financial Center Managers.
Reinforce consistent execution of small business playbooks across the branch network.
Support local Financial Center Managers with business development activities, client preparation, joint calls, and follow-up on high-potential small business opportunities.
Manage inbound referrals from retail and generate outbound opportunities by prospecting for larger small business clients within the local MSA.
Drive deposit growth, small business lending volume, and fee income across assigned $1 million-plus relationships and targeted local prospects.
Analyze business financials to assess creditworthiness and recommend appropriate lending structures.
Collaborate with underwriting partners, such as the Business Loan Center, to structure and execute solutions.