Government Banking Sales Associate

Government Banking focuses on providing tailored financial solutions for government entities, local municipalities, and public sector organizations. We are seeking an enthusiastic Government Banking Sales Associate to join our team and help nurture and expand clients within this space. We are open to candidates across the Central / Northern Michigan Market, encompassing cities such as Cadillac, Traverse City, Petoskey, Mount Pleasant, Alma, Saginaw, and Midland, where you will support government banking clients. We are also open to experienced Government Sales Officers across the state of Michigan who are seeking a change and want to find out what makes Mercantile Bank one of the best and brightest companies to work for 18 years and counting!

Key Responsibilities:

• Proactively Engage with Prospects
• Assist in identifying new business opportunities with governmental agencies, local municipalities, and public sector organizations
• Determine the best way to route and support government banking requests and provide education to clients and branch networks regarding government banking options
• Manage and track client relationships, ensuring consistent communication and follow-up on leads and opportunities

Your Day as a Government Banking Sales Associate:

In this role, you will be responsible for supporting the sales and relationship management efforts of our government banking team. You will assist in developing and maintaining relationships with government clients, identifying their financial needs, and offering solutions that align with their objectives. This junior-level role provides an excellent opportunity to learn and grow within the governmental banking sector as you will be in frequent communication with the Government Banking team discussing various strategies, opportunities, and learning from their expertise in this specialized field.

By demonstrating confidence in reaching out to new prospects, attending industry conferences, and building relationships through networking and entertaining you'll expand the bank's presence and opportunities within the governmental sector.

Partnering with internal teams and the branch network you'll cover a wide area and be required to travel regionally to meet in person with clients and team members. Most travel will be during the day, with the occasional overnight when attending multi-day conferences and conventions outside of a reasonable commute home each night. As you build your network, you may be able to reduce your travel by meeting digitally on occasion with clients with whom you have strong relationships.

You'll learn and work with Treasury Sales Officers in the preparation of bids and RFP's (Requests for Proposal) that are common in government contracts and conduct research to understand the financial needs of government clients. Through your support developing and preparing presentations you'll gain the knowledge needed to confidently present and attend meetings and client visits. Your support will include maintaining records of client interactions, sales activities, and progress within internal tracking systems.

By monitoring and keeping up to date on trends, regulations, and developments in governmental banking, you'll ensure that Mercantile Bank remains a competitive option as the decision often comes down to location, relationship, and price. We are committed to providing our customers with the highest quality service their taxpayers can buy, ultimately providing them with quality long-term banking relationships built on trust and stability.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Public Sector / Government Relations, or a related field preferred, or equivalent work experience
• Banking experience, with minimum of two years in sales or direct customer facing experience
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships at all levels.
• Strong interest in governmental banking and public sector finance, eager to learn the complexities of financial products and services offered to government entities
• Ability to think strategically and develop solutions tailored to client needs
• Ability to safely operate a motor vehicle and travel regionally with overnights as needed
• Eager to engage with the community and clients through conferences, committees, community organizations, and community events

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working (or internships) in banking, finance, or sales, with a preference for prior government or public sector experience
• Knowledge of government and compliance standards within the banking industry
• Familiarity with public sector procurement processes - RFP's, proposals, etc.

Apply Today!

If this sounds like you, we encourage you to apply and one of our HR Business Partners will reach out to you with next steps.