Overview
First Citizens Bank is seeking an accomplished banking executive to lead the growth, performance, and market presence of our St. Louis business. The Area Executive will own market financial performance while leading an integrated team of commercial bankers, business bankers, and retail banking professionals.
This highly visible leader will establish the market strategy, create a disciplined sales culture, strengthen client and community relationships, and develop a high-performing team capable of delivering sustainable growth. The successful candidate will bring strong commercial judgment, demonstrated P&L leadership, credit acumen, and an established ability to generate business through client acquisition, relationship expansion, and centers of influence.
The position reports to the Regional Executive Vice President and partners closely with Credit, Business Services, Branch Operations Support, and other corporate teams.
Responsibilities
What You Will Do
Lead Market Growth and Financial Performance
- Own the performance of the St. Louis market, including revenue growth, profitability, client acquisition, relationship expansion, and overall market execution.
- Develop and execute short-term and long-term sales strategies aligned with the Bank’s strategic and financial objectives.
- Identify opportunities to expand relationships across commercial banking, business banking, retail banking, deposits, treasury services, and other financial solutions.
- Use market intelligence, performance data, forecasts, and pipeline activity to evaluate progress and adjust strategy.
- Establish a strong presence with clients, prospects, centers of influence, and key business leaders throughout the market.
Build and Lead a High-Performing Sales Team
- Lead, coach, and develop commercial bankers, business bankers, retail leaders, and other market professionals.
- Set clear expectations and create accountability for sales activity, pipeline development, client retention, and financial results.
- Inspect pipeline activity, evaluate calling strategies, and coach team members on opportunity development and execution.
- Participate in client and prospect meetings, particularly for complex, high-value, or strategically important relationships.
- Attract, retain, and develop high-performing talent while building a collaborative and inclusive market culture.
Strengthen Credit Quality and Risk Management
- Serve as an active partner to Credit and guide the banking team in structuring, evaluating, and progressing credit opportunities.
- Balance growth objectives with sound credit administration, risk identification, and risk mitigation.
- Promote timely and effective deal processing through strong coordination among bankers, Credit, and internal partners.
- Maintain awareness of portfolio performance and emerging risks while reinforcing adherence to Bank policies and risk standards.
- Help the team develop well-structured client solutions that support relationship growth and appropriate risk management.
Deliver an Integrated Client Experience
- Build productive relationships with Credit, Business Services, Branch Operations Support, and other corporate divisions.
- Coordinate internal resources to manage the total financial services relationship for clients and prospects.
- Promote collaboration across business lines to deliver relevant solutions, deepen relationships, and improve the client experience.
- Serve as an escalation point for significant client, operational, credit, or market-related matters.
- Ensure the market operates with a consistent focus on responsiveness, accountability, and long-term relationship value.
Represent First Citizens in the St. Louis Community
- Serve as a visible and credible representative of First Citizens Bank in the St. Louis market.
- Develop relationships with business owners, executives, civic leaders, professional advisers, and community organizations.
- Participate in local boards, civic initiatives, economic development activities, and other community functions.
- Build and maintain a strong network of centers of influence that supports the Bank’s reputation and business development goals.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen the Bank’s brand, community involvement, and market position.
Qualifications
Candidates must meet one of the following education and experience combinations:
- Bachelor’s degree and at least 10 years of experience in commercial, business, or retail banking; or High school diploma or GED and at least 14 years of experience in commercial, business, or retail banking.
Preferred Qualifications
- Demonstrated management experience within commercial banking, business banking, retail banking, or a multi-line banking environment.
- Experience leading a market, region, or significant banking team with responsibility for financial performance.
- Proven success in developing sales strategies and delivering revenue, client, deposit, loan, or market share growth.
- Experience coaching bankers, inspecting sales pipelines, and participating in complex client calling efforts.
- Strong working knowledge of commercial credit, credit administration, portfolio risk, and effective deal execution.
- Established relationships within the St. Louis business community, including clients, prospects, professional advisers, civic organizations, and centers of influence.
- Experience representing an organization through local boards, community leadership, or economic development activities.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate across business lines and corporate support functions.
Benefits are an integral part of total rewards and First Citizens Bank is committed to providing a competitive, thoughtfully designed and quality benefits program to meet the needs of our associates. More information can be found at https://jobs.firstcitizens.com/benefits.