Bankwell Financial Group, Inc.

Branch Manager

Bankwell Financial Group, Inc.$75K — $95K *
Finance & Insurance
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of experience in retail banking, business banking, or financial services with a leadership role
  • Track record of success in Small Business development and deposit growth
  • Ability to develop COI networks for deposit acquisition
  • Experience working with Commercial Lending, SBA, and Treasury Management
  • Solid understanding of branch operations and risk management
  • Strong leadership and team development skills
  • Excellent business development and networking capabilities

Responsibilities

  • Drive deposit growth, focusing on new Small Business relationships
  • Develop and execute a proactive business development strategy
  • Conduct sales calls to establish new Small Business relationships
  • Serve as the bank's representative in the local market
  • Partner with internal teams for comprehensive client solutions
  • Lead a performance-driven sales culture emphasizing growth and retention
  • Provide hands-on leadership and coaching for team performance

Benefits

  • Professional development and training opportunities
  • Collaborative and goal-oriented team environment
  • Opportunity to influence branch performance and community presence
  • Flexible work hours including community engagement
  • Access to banking systems and digital platforms for operational efficiency
Full Job Description
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


Requirements

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.

About Bankwell Financial Group, Inc.

Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Bankwell Bank that provides a range of banking services to commercial and consumer customers in Connecticut. The company offers checking, savings, and money market accounts; and demand and NOW deposits, as well as certificates of deposit. It also provides commercial lending products, including owner-occupied commercial real estate loans, commercial real estate investment loans, business term loans, equipment financing, and lines of credit to small and medium-sized businesses, as well as real estate construction and development loans. In addition, the company offers residential real estate loans, including conforming and non-conforming mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit, and residential construction and land loans; and consumer loans, such as loans secured by savings or certificate accounts, and unsecured personal loans. Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in New Canaan, Connecticut.
Learn more about Bankwell Financial Group, Inc.
Size
124 employees
Market Cap
$222.9 million
Industry
Net Income
$5.9 million
5 Year Trend
+5.9%
NASDAQ

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