Branch Manager

About Bankwell:

Bankwell is a commercial bank with more than $3 billion in assets that serves the banking needs of businesses and individuals. At Bankwell, we pride ourselves on our unique ability to bring you high touch, high-quality banking with the expertise and dedication of our experienced team of professionals. When it comes to business, our deep industry knowledge, flexibility and innovative treasury and financing services enable us to find the right solutions for our business and commercial clients. We’re passionate about giving back and are actively involved with many not-for-profit organizations that help shape and improve the lives of others. We’re dedicated to giving our time and talent to support the communities we serve. More about Bankwell can be found at www.mybankwell.com.

Summary of Position:

The Branch Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, performance, and growth of the branch, including sales production, deposit growth, customer experience, operational excellence, and team development. This role has a strong emphasis on driving deposit growth across both Small Business and Consumer segments, with a primary focus on acquiring new Small Business relationships and deposits while deepening and retaining existing client relationships.

A critical component of this position is spending significant time outside the branch developing Centers of Influence (COIs), cultivating referral networks, and generating new Small Business Deposits, Treasury Management relationships, and lending opportunities.

The Branch Manager leads through others by effectively managing and coaching the Assistant Branch Manager and team to ensure seamless branch operations, adherence to policies and procedures, strong risk management, and delivery of consistently high-quality client experience.

Responsibilities include:

Business Development, Sales Leadership & Team Development

• Drive overall deposit growth, with a strong emphasis on Small Business deposit acquisition and new-to-bank relationships
• Develop and execute a proactive business development strategy, including:
  • Building and maintaining COI relationships (attorneys, accountants, real estate professionals, and local business leaders)
  • Active participation in community and networking events
  • Consistent outbound calling and in-market prospecting
• Conduct external sales calls to identify, source, and win new Small Business relationships
• Serve as the face of the bank in the local market to strengthen brand presence and drive new opportunities
• Partner with Business Banker, Commercial, SBA, Treasury Management, and internal service teams to deliver comprehensive client solutions and maximize relationship growth
• Drive growth in consumer deposits, households, and product penetration, while ensuring strong retention and relationship deepening
• Ensure consistent sales behaviors across the team, including outbound calling, needs-based conversations, and cross-selling
• Lead a performance-driven sales culture focused on:
  • New relationship acquisition
  • Relationship deepening and retention
  • Digital adoption and engagement
• Provide hands-on leadership, coaching, and performance management to team members
• Conduct regular huddles, pipeline reviews, and accountability sessions
• Oversee hiring, onboarding, training, and development, identifying and addressing skill gaps

Branch Operations & Risk Management

• Maintain full accountability for branch operations, compliance, and risk management
• Lead and influence the Assistant Branch Manager to ensure:
  • Effective day-to-day branch execution
  • Adherence to bank policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements
  • Strong audit performance and risk mitigation
• Oversee all operational functions, including:
  • Teller transactions, cash handling, ATM and vault management
  • Transaction activity, staffing, and scheduling
  • Service delivery and operational efficiency
• Ensure the branch operates with a focus on both efficiency and exceptional customer experience
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance performance and service quality
• Respond to audit findings and ensure timely and effective resolution
• Maintain a culture of operational discipline, accountability, and control awareness

Leadership & Team Development

• Provide visible, hands-on leadership as the in-branch manager
• Coach, mentor, and develop team members to achieve high performance in sales, service, and operations
• Manage performance through observation, feedback, and structured development plans
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Partner with training teams to support ongoing employee development and readiness

Qualifications & Skills:

• Minimum 5+ years of retail banking, business banking, or financial services experience, with leadership responsibility
• Proven success in Small Business development, including deposit growth and new relationship acquisition
• Demonstrated ability to build and leverage COI networks to generate new deposits
• Strong track record of driving both consumer and business deposit growth
• Experience partnering with Commercial Lending, SBA, and Treasury Management teams
• Solid understanding of branch operations, compliance, and risk management
• Excellent leadership, coaching, and team development capabilities
• Strong business development, networking, and community presence
• Client-focused, results-driven, and highly motivated
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills in a fast-paced environment
• Proficiency with banking systems and digital platforms
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and community events

FLSA Status: Exempt

This job description is a general description of essential job functions. It is not intended as an employment contract, nor is it intended to describe all duties someone in this position may perform. All employees are expected to perform tasks assigned by supervisory personnel, regardless of job titles or routine job duties.

Bankwell is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against any applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, marital status, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the terms of Americans with Disabilities Act and certain other state or local laws. Please inform Bankwell’s Human Resources representative if you need assistance completing any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.

All employees are responsible for complying with banking regulations that apply to Bankwell. This includes, but is not limited to, adhering to the BSA and various consumer protection regulations, and complying with OFAC sanctions. Employees are required to complete compliance training and follow policies and procedures for applicable regulations based on their role. An employee’s failure to comply with banking regulations will be individually reviewed and assessed. The result of non-compliance may impact job performance ratings and may be serious enough to require termination of employment.