Commercial Relationship Manager
Posted Jul 16, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026
Likely interview questions for this role
Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.
About your past
Tell me about a relationship you grew from a single loan into a full relationship with deposits and treasury services.
What they are checking: Whether they think in total relationship profitability rather than one transaction.
How do you prospect for new commercial clients in the Chicago market?
What they are checking: Whether they have a real approach to finding business, like centers of influence and targeted industries.
Tell me about a deal you lost on price. Would you do anything differently?
What they are checking: Whether they understand when to compete on price and when to walk away.
How do you balance hitting loan growth goals with keeping your portfolio quality high?
What they are checking: Whether they see quality as part of their job and won't chase volume at any cost.
What would you do
A good client asks for a loan that doesn't meet the bank's criteria. How do you handle that conversation?
What they are checking: Whether they can say no or restructure while protecting the relationship.
How do you monitor the health of the relationships already in your portfolio?
What they are checking: Whether they watch covenants, financial reporting and warning signs instead of only chasing new deals.
How do you prepare for a first sales call with a business owner?
What they are checking: Whether they do homework on the company and industry so the call is about the client's needs.
One of your borrowers misses a covenant. What do you do in the first week?
What they are checking: Whether they act quickly, get the facts and work with credit on a plan rather than waiting.
About the work
Walk me through how you decide whether a commercial borrower is credit eligible.
What they are checking: Whether they understand cash flow, collateral, leverage and guarantor strength well enough to bring sound deals.
What makes a strong loan narrative for credit approval?
What they are checking: Whether they can present risks honestly alongside strengths so credit can make a fast, informed decision.
Here's a company with flat revenue, rising debt and a strong owner. What questions would you ask before bringing it to credit?
What they are checking: Whether they can spot weaknesses in financial trends and dig into what's behind them.
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Practice this out loudThe full job description
As published by First Financial Bank.