Small Business Lending Consultant

Fifth Third Bank

2d • Remote

About The Position

The Small Business Lending Consultant is a customer-facing expert within consumer banking, responsible for guiding small business clients through the entire lending process—from initial inquiry to loan closing. This role combines deep credit expertise with strong relationship skills to ensure clients are matched with the most appropriate lending solutions. The Consultant works closely with internal teams while maintaining direct ownership of loan outcomes, ensuring alignment with Fifth Third Bank’s credit policies and delivering a seamless customer experience.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of banking experience.
• Practical experience in small business lending.
• Credit Analysis: Ability to assess financial health and creditworthiness using financial statements and other documentation.
• Loan Structuring: Experience designing loan packages that meet both client needs and institutional risk standards.
• Financial Documentation: Proficiency in reviewing and interpreting tax returns, balance sheets, income statements, and other financial records.
• Sales Coaching & Influence: Proven ability to coach and influence teams in a sales environment to drive performance and adoption of best practices.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for small business clients throughout the loan process.
• Guide clients through loan options, application requirements, and closing procedures.
• Analyze small business loan applications, including cash flow, collateral, and creditworthiness.
• Provide technical guidance on loan structuring and placement to ensure optimal fit for client needs.
• Craft clear, concise deal write-ups to streamline the loan approval process.
• Maintain deep knowledge of Fifth Third’s credit policies and lending products.
• Own the progression of loans from pipeline sourcing to closing, ensuring timely follow-up and resolution.
• Coach branch teams on managing and advancing loan pipelines effectively.
• Monitor pipeline health and identify bottlenecks or opportunities for acceleration.
• Share best practices for loan origination, documentation, and follow-up.
• Partner with Retail Financial Centers to support complex small business lending scenarios.
• Deliver targeted coaching on lending acumen, product knowledge, and sales behaviors.
• Collaborate with Business Banking and Credit teams to ensure seamless handoffs and customer experience.
• Identify trends in small business lending and provide feedback to leadership on market opportunities.
• Contribute to regional planning discussions with data-driven insights on lending performance.
• Support the development of lending-related training materials and job family content.
• Performing other duties as assigned, adapting to new tasks or shifts in priorities as necessary to support your team’s and the company’s mission.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits and differentiated compensation offerings
• Eligible to participate in an incentive compensation plan
• Extensive benefits programs designed to support the individual needs of our employees and their families, encompassing physical, financial, emotional and social well-being.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level