Commercial Relationship Specialist

Executive Summary

The Commercial Relationship Specialist (CRS) Development Plan is an 18-24-month structured program designed to build a sustainable, high-quality talent pipeline within Commercial Lending. The program equips new CRSs with the technical knowledge, sales capabilities, and relationship-management skills required to successfully transition into a Commercial Relationship Manager (CRM) role.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Refer to the Roles and Responsibilities section for core responsibilities.
• Support client relationship development.
• Aid in loan origination and portfolio management.
• Strengthen foundational credit skills.
• Learn to navigate Fremont Bank’s sales and credit processes.

Product Knowledge

• Develop a working understanding of all Fremont Bank products and services.

Sales and Credit Process Navigation

• Learn to efficiently navigate Fremont Bank’s credit and sales processes to support timely and accurate deal execution.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with CRM’s, credit analysts, loan operations, and treasury management to ensure exceptional client experience and deal execution.

Client Relationship Development

• Support CRMs in developing, managing, and expanding client relationships by identifying client needs, recommending appropriate structures, and referring opportunities to the appropriate business partners.

Loan Origination and Portfolio Management

• Assist in originating new commercial loans through prospecting activities such as cold calling.
• Partner with senior CRMs to help manage portfolios, participate in sales calls, review incoming loan requests, and form preliminary recommendations.

Credit Analysis and Presentation

• Build foundational credit skills in both real estate and C&I lending by reviewing and creating spreads of financial statements, assessing creditworthiness, and preparing credit presentations for respective committees.

Expected Outcomes

• Demonstrate readiness for promotion to Commercial Relationship Manager.
• Originate and support real estate and C&I transactions.
• Manage a portfolio.
• Confidently present credit memorandums to respective committees.
• Structure and recommend loan requests using financial analysis.
• Mastery of bank systems and processes.
• Receive positive feedback and performance evaluations.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.

Experience

• 1-3 years of banking experience, or prior internship/rotational experience within a financial institution.

Technical Skills

• Basic understanding of financial statements, credit risk principles, and loan structuring.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

• Ability to interact professionally with clients and internal partners.
• Analytical & Organizational Abilities: High attention to detail, sound judgment, and effective problem-solving and time-management skills.

Professionalism

• Demonstrates integrity, accountability, and a professional demeanor while upholding Fremont Bank’s values and ethical standards.

Preferred Experience

• Experience supporting commercial lending teams.
• Exposure to commercial credit underwriting.
• Hands-on experience reviewing or preparing credit memos.
• Familiarity with bank products and services.
• Prior client-facing experience.
• Completion of formal credit training.
• Knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements.