Chief Banking Officer, Sterling

$135K–$150K Base + ~10% Bonus | Full Relocation Offered
Comprehensive Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k, PTO)
Location: (Western Illinois – ~2 hours west of Chicago)
About the Opportunity
We are representing a
growing, community-focused bank
seeking a
Chief Banking Officer (CBO)
to join its executive leadership team.
This is a newly created role driven by growth and succession planning, offering the opportunity to shape the future of a well-established regional institution.
The bank has approximately
150 employees across 9 locations
and has built a strong reputation for relationship-based banking, customer service, and deep community involvement.
Why This Role
Executive leadership role
with direct impact on strategy and growth
Full relocation package offered
Strong financial performance and momentum:
~$696M in assets (
+5% YoY
)
Net income up
~20% year-over-year
Loan growth of
~8% YoY
Stable, engaged workforce
— average employee tenure ~5 years
Community-driven culture
— employees actively involved in local events, nonprofits, and outreach
The Role
The Chief Banking Officer will provide strategic leadership across core business lines, including:
Retail Banking
Marketing
Future Treasury Management expansion
This individual will oversee approximately
half of the organization
and play a key role in driving growth, strengthening customer relationships, and developing high-performing teams.
Key Responsibilities
Develop and execute strategies to drive
deposit growth and market expansion
Partner with executive leadership on
annual goals and performance targets
Lead and develop
high-performing teams across multiple locations
Strengthen a
relationship-driven, customer-first culture
Oversee
branch operations, customer experience, and sales performance
Partner with commercial lending to deepen
client and treasury relationships
Lead growth of
private banking / wealth services
Build strong partnerships with
local businesses and community organizations
Ensure strong
operational discipline, compliance, and risk management
Market Coverage
This role supports a
9-location footprint
across:
Core markets in Sterling, Dixon, and Rock Falls
Additional locations in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin
The position requires a
visible leadership presence
, with travel across a regional footprint ******** mile radius).
What We're Looking For
10+ years of leadership experience in
banking or financial services
Proven success in
strategic growth, team leadership, and business development
Strong understanding of
retail and commercial banking operations
Experience leading across
multiple branches or regions
Executive presence with a
hands-on, collaborative leadership style
Strong relationship-building skills internally and externally
Culture Fit (Critical)
This is a
community banking environment
:
Relationship-driven vs. transactional
High visibility in the
local community
Collaborative,
family-oriented culture
Leaders are expected to be present, engaged, and involved
Candidates from larger institutions are welcome but must be able to
adapt to a relationship-focused, community-first approach
.
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