Description

The Head of Sponsor Banking is a leadership role responsible for building and leading the bank's sponsored banking (Banking-as-a-Service) program. This is a player/coach position that combines strategic vision and team development with hands-on execution. The Head of Sponsor Banking will work with the CEO to architect the bank's BaaS strategy and governance framework while simultaneously serving as the primary program manager for fintech partner relationships - directly overseeing product builds, partner onboarding, and the assessment of fintech policies and procedures to ensure regulatory compliance and operational soundness.

This individual must be equally comfortable presenting strategic roadmaps to the Board and regulators as they are working at the desk level with fintech partners on API integrations, program documentation, and compliance artifacts. The role is foundational to the bank's growth strategy and requires a leader who can operate with urgency and rigor in a highly regulated environment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership & Program Development
• Develop and own the bank's end-to-end sponsor banking strategy, including target market definition, partnership criteria, risk appetite framework, and revenue model.
• Coordinate with department leaders to design and build the internal BaaS infrastructure: controls, and governance structures required to support fintech partnerships at scale.
• Coordinate with the compliance department to develop the sponsor banking-related policies and procedures.
• Establish the bank's Fintech Partner Framework, including due diligence standards, onboarding playbooks, and ongoing monitoring protocols.
• Work with the Board, Leadership Team, and regulators (OCC/FDIC/Federal Reserve) to align on BaaS program parameters, risk tolerances, and growth strategy.
• Develop and present program updates, KPI dashboards, and risk reports to senior leadership and the Board of Directors.
• Build internal awareness and bank-wide alignment around sponsor banking obligations, risks, and strategic opportunities.

Team Building & People Leadership
• Recruit, hire, and develop the bank's sponsor banking team, including program managers, technology liaisons, and relationship managers.
• Define team structure and role clarity as the program scales from pilot to full production.
• Coach and mentor team members to develop deep expertise in BaaS compliance, fintech operations, and program management.
• Serve as a role model for a culture of compliance, accountability, and partnership excellence.

Fintech Partner Program Management
• Serve as the primary bank relationship owner and program manager for all fintech partners, overseeing the full partner lifecycle from prospecting through termination.
• Lead fintech partner onboarding, including coordinating legal agreements, operational setup, systems integration, and compliance readiness reviews.
• Work directly with fintech product, engineering, compliance, and operations teams to co-develop program documentation, product specifications, and operational runbooks.
• Manage ongoing partner performance through regular business reviews, issue escalation protocols, and SLA monitoring.
• Serve as the escalation point for critical partner issues, outages, and regulatory inquiries related to fintech programs.

Fintech Policy, Procedure & Compliance Assessment
• Collaborate with the bank's BSA Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, and Risk Management to ensure all partner programs meet regulatory expectations.
• Collaborate with the bank's compliance team to conduct thorough assessments of fintech partner policies and procedures across all critical domains: BSA/AML, OFAC, fair lending, consumer protection, data privacy, cybersecurity, and operational resilience.
• Identify gaps in fintech compliance frameworks and develop remediation plans with defined timelines and accountability.
• Oversee ongoing third-party risk management for all fintech partners in accordance with OCC/FDIC third-party guidance (OCC 2013-29 / FDIC FIL-29-2024).
• Liaise with regulatory examiners during examinations related to third-party/fintech partnerships and BaaS activities.
• Stay current on regulatory developments (CFPB, OCC, FDIC, FinCEN) impacting sponsor banking and proactively update bank programs accordingly.

Product & Technology Collaboration
• Partner with IT and operations teams to assess the bank's core system capabilities and develop a technology roadmap that supports BaaS product delivery.
• Evaluate fintech technology stacks for compatibility, security, and resilience; provide input on API connectivity, data flows, and system interdependencies.
• Drive product development priorities with fintech partners, ensuring the bank's compliance, risk, and operational requirements are embedded in product design.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

Required
• 5+ years of experience in banking, fintech, or financial services with a minimum of 3 years in a sponsor banking, BaaS, payments, or fintech partnership role at a bank or fintech.
• Demonstrated experience managing fintech or third-party partnerships through the full lifecycle, including due diligence, onboarding, and ongoing monitoring.
• Strong understanding of payment rails (ACH, RTP, card), deposit products, and the regulatory framework governing bank-fintech partnerships.
• Proven ability to build and lead teams in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to translate complex regulatory and operational topics for diverse audiences including Boards, regulators, and fintech partners.

Preferred
• Experience at a community or mid-size bank operating a BaaS or sponsor banking program.
• Deep knowledge of BSA/AML, OFAC, consumer protection regulations (UDAAP, ECOA, FCRA), and bank third-party risk management requirements.
• Experience developing policies, procedures, and governance frameworks in a regulated financial institution.
• Familiarity with core banking platforms (FIS, Fiserv, Jack Henry) and BaaS middleware providers.
• CAMS, CRCM, or equivalent professional certification.
• Experience with OCC or FDIC regulatory examinations related to fintech/BaaS activities.

Core Competencies
• Regulatory Acumen
• Strategic Thinking
• Partner Management
• People Leadership
• Identify and Adress Risks
• Communication