Jobs › First Financial Bank

Sr Commercial Relationship Manager II

First Financial Bank · MI · Remote available · Full time

Posted Aug 3, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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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 the book of business you manage now: size, industries, and how much of it you originated yourself.

What they are checking: Whether they bring a real, portable book and can speak to growth they personally drove.

Describe your prospecting routine for a week. Where do your best new clients come from?

What they are checking: Whether they have a disciplined, repeatable business development process with centers of influence.

Tell me about a deal you lost. What did you learn?

What they are checking: Whether they reflect honestly on losses and change how they work.

What would you do

A long-standing client's financials show declining margins and a covenant near breach. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they raise problems early with credit and the client instead of hiding bad news.

A competitor offers your client a lower rate with looser terms. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they compete on value and structure without giving away pricing or taking bad risk.

How do you work with portfolio managers and credit partners so that deals close on time?

What they are checking: Whether they treat the deal team as partners and keep everyone informed to avoid surprises.

About the work

Walk me through how you decide whether a middle market prospect is creditworthy before you take it to credit.

What they are checking: Whether they can screen deals on cash flow, leverage, collateral and management before spending the bank's time.

What goes into a strong loan narrative, and what do credit officers push back on most?

What they are checking: Whether they write narratives that address risks honestly so deals move through approval cleanly.

How do you bring treasury management and deposits into a relationship that started with a loan?

What they are checking: Whether they cross-sell to build a profitable full relationship, not just a loan-only client.

How do you monitor and improve profitability on an existing relationship?

What they are checking: Whether they understand relationship pricing, deposit balances and fees as levers they manage.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at First Financial Bank from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

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The full job description

As published by First Financial Bank.

We do the right things, right now. We do them in a way that is relevant to our clients. Become a part of our history as it continues to be written! If you are interested and qualified for this role, we invite you to apply. The Relationship Manager (“RM”) will handle multi-faceted relationships as you call on prospective and existing clients to generate loans, deposits, and fees for a geographic area. The RM will determine credit eligibility, prepare loan narratives, ensure loans meet appropriate criteria, and effectively cross-sell a wide variety of products. Responsibilities include marketing products and services, including preparing for client calls, making sales calls, and call follow-up as well as monitoring and enhancing profitability on all assigned relationships. The Relationship Manager participates in the achievement of corporate sales and service goals to build customer (external/internal) relationships and enhance shareholder value. The position will generally be located in a market hub or other high business potential. Essential Functions/Responsibilities • Develops new and expands existing client relationships by initiating business development activities, proactively reviewing client’s current and changing financial needs, and cross selling products and services. • Grows and maintains a profitable book of business (loans and deposits) to achieve individual and market goals. • Develops a comprehensive understanding of client’s needs based on the review and analysis of personal and financial data. • Qualifies prospects by collecting and analyzing financial and related data in order to determine the general credit worthiness of the prospect and the merits of the specific loan requests. • Prepares and oversees the completion of the loan approval requirements including careful underwriting of the loan so that the structure meets the needs of the borrower and the bank. Obtains appropriate approval for credit under consideration. • Recommends and negotiates the terms under which the credit will be extended to include pricing fees, costs repayment method and schedule, collateral requirements, etc. • Responsible for portfolio management including monitoring credit quality which includes past due credits, non-performing and credit exceptions, covenant compliance and credit exceptions of their active portfolio. • Actively participates and represents First Financial Bank in various community, civic and professional organizations. • Refers loans to loan committee for approval. • Responsible for understanding clients’ financial goals, provide credible advice and recommend products that fit their holistic needs. Intimately understand clients’ business priorities and refer them to other lines of business as appropriate. • Collaborates with Bankers, Financial Center Managers, Retail Leaders, Credit/Underwriting, Loan Processing and Documentation teams and Bank senior management. • Participates in all bank marketing and sales promotions, contributes to initiatives and programs designed to promote organization’s strategic priorities, complies with all bank, loan and regulatory guidelines and policies. Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed to Perform Essential Functions of the Job • Bachelor’s degree. • Ten (10) years of proven relationship/account management experience selling banking products in the appropriate segmentation required. • Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication and presentation skills. • Excellent organizational skills and ability to handle and prioritize multiple tasks. • Well-developed analytical and problem-solving skills. • Ability to generate new business through a consultative sales approach. • Demonstrated sales and negotiating experience. Marketing oriented. • Ability to work effectively with individuals and groups in managing customer relationships. • Well versed in product knowledge. • Credit training, credit quality and underwriting experience; including financial analysis. Preferred Knowledge and Skills • Demonstrated experience working in Capital Markets and/or within the Middle Market space ($75MM+). • Experience in Structured Finance, Asset Based Lending (ABL), ESOP, and/or leading syndicated transactions. Level of Complexity and Scope • Strong sales ability and relationship management skills. • Ability to compile, analyze and act upon widely diverse points of view and exceptional skill at gaining agreement on issues of the highest level of importance Degree of Independence and Decision-Making • Works with limited supervision. • Collaborates with senior managers / leaders across the organization. • Authority and freedom to act independently and make decisions within broad interpretation of laws, regulations and company policies. Such decisions could have a significant short-term effect on company financial results and business prospects. Required Supervisory Responsibilities Physical Requirements Compliance Statement The associate is responsible for meeting all compliance requirements imposed on First Financial Bank by State and Federal law and regulation, as well as all related First Financial Bank policies and procedures. This includes all Bank Secrecy Act, Anti-Money Laundering, OFAC and Suspicious Activity reporting requirements, as well as all other lending and deposit compliance requirements. Development and Training Pay Range: $130,000/year to $210,000/year Benefits We have relevant, thoughtful benefits and programs that support every aspect of our associates' holistic wellbeing. Please review our Benefits Guide . Incentive Eligibility All roles are incentive eligible with the exception of Co-Op, Intern, or Student positions. It is our policy to not discriminate against any individual in violation of federal, state, and local laws as it relates to age, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, pregnancy, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran/military service, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are an E-Verify Employer.

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