Small Business Lending Consultant

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ABOUT THE ROLE:

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.

Please see below for specific responsibilities and requirements for this role.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES:

The responsibilities for this role are below; you may support projects of varying complexity based on skill and organizational priorities.

• Lending Expertise & Deal Support
  • 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.
• Pipeline Management & Optimization
  • 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.
• Internal Collaboration & Coaching
  • 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.
• Strategic Lending Insights
  • 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.

Other Duties: 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.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

This role is designed for individuals with established experience within the banking industry.

We require a minimum of 5 years of banking experience, along with practical experience in small business lending. 

REQUIRED SKILLS:

Qualified candidates will possess a moderate degree of proficiency (typically from 5 years of work or practical experience), in: 

• 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.

Please refer to the “Skills for Success” section to learn how to stand out as an applicant.

SKILLS FOR SUCCESS:

Qualified candidates will possess a moderate degree of proficiency (typically from 5 years of work or practical experience), across a suite of skills including, but not limited to: 

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

• 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.