Government Guaranteed Lending Relationship Manager

Make banking a Fifth Third better® We connect great people to great opportunities. Are you ready to take the next step? Discover a career in banking at Fifth Third Bank.ABOUT THE ROLEThe Government Guaranteed Lending Relationship Manager supports a designated region by expanding and managing Small Business Administration (SBA) lending activity, including 504 and 7(a) loan programs. This role serves as a key partner to Relationship Managers, SBA partners, Credit, Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) teams, and external partners to structure compliant, value‑added financing solutions for commercial clients.This position plays a critical role in identifying CRA‑eligible opportunities, strengthening partnerships with Certified Development Companies (CDCs), and driving SBA referral activity in support of regional growth and client outcomes.YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES:The responsibilities for this role are below; you may support projects of varying complexity based on skill and organizational priorities.SBA Lending & Subject Matter Expertise: Serve as a regional subject matter expert for SBA 504 and 7(a) lending, supporting deal origination, structuring, eligibility analysis, and execution in alignment with SBA guidelines and internal credit policy.Deal Structuring & Banker Support: Partner with Relationship Managers to structure transactions, assess client eligibility, and position SBA solutions to enhance client outcomes and ensure compliant credit delivery.Client Engagement: Participate in client discussions to evaluate financing needs and present government guaranteed lending solutions that support business growth and capital access.Referral Generation & Business Development: Maintain and achieve assigned SBA referral goals through proactive engagement with bankers, driving qualified referrals, submissions, and funded loan volume.Partner & Ecosystem Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong working relationships with Certified Development Companies (CDCs) and SBA ecosystem partners to facilitate transaction execution and expand referral channels.CRA Identification & Alignment: Identify and support CRA‑eligible opportunities within both conventional and SBA pipelines, partnering with Relationship Managers and CRA teams to ensure proper qualification, documentation, and reporting.Pipeline Management & Reporting: Track and manage SBA referrals, applications, and funded loans at the regional level, ensuring data accuracy and visibility into performance against goals.Internal Collaboration: Partner with Credit, SBA Operations, CRA, Compliance, and Legal teams to ensure efficient execution and adherence to policy and regulatory requirements.Training & Capability Building: Provide training and coaching to Relationship Managers to enhance SBA knowledge, utilization, and confidence in delivering government guaranteed solutions.Continuous Improvement: Support ongoing enhancement of SBA and CRA processes, tools, and client experience to drive efficiency and scalability.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:Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience)Experience in commercial lending, SBA lending, or government guaranteed credit supportWorking knowledge of SBA 504 and 7(a) lending programsUnderstanding of Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) regulations and eligibility considerationsDemonstrated ability to partner with Relationship Managers and cross-functional stakeholders in a regional banking environmentREQUIRED SKILLS:Qualified candidates will possess an advanced degree of proficiency (typically from 5+ years of relevant experience), in:SBA Lending Expertise: Knowledge of SBA 504 and 7(a) program structures, eligibility requirements, and compliance considerationsCredit & Structuring Acumen: Ability to analyze transactions and structure compliant, client-focused financing solutionsRelationship Management: Strong ability to build partnerships across bankers, CDCs, and internal stakeholdersCommunication & Influence: Effective communication skills to advise, educate, and influence stakeholders across varying levelsPipeline & Performance Management: Ability to manage referral pipelines, track performance metrics, and meet production goalsSKILLS FOR SUCCESS:Qualified candidates will possess an advanced degree of proficiency (typically from 5+ years of relevant experience), across a suite of skills including, but not limited to:Business Development Orientation: Proactively identifies opportunities to expand SBA utilization and drive regional growthCollaboration & One Bank Mindset: Works effectively across lines of business to deliver integrated client solutionsAnalytical Thinking: Evaluates complex credit scenarios and identifies optimal structuring approachesExecution & Accountability: Delivers high-quality outc