Columbia Bank is a full-service consumer and commercial bank serving individuals, businesses, and communities across New Jersey, Staten Island, and Brooklyn. Through our banking, title, insurance, and wealth management businesses, we provide a broad range of financial solutions tailored to our customers’ needs. We are also committed to strengthening the communities we serve through employee volunteerism, community partnerships, and the Columbia Bank Foundation.Why This Role Matters: The Business Development Officer is a key driver of commercial deposit growth, focused on building new customer relationships and expanding existing relationships across the assigned market. Through proactive business development and strong community and business relationships, the BDO identifies opportunities to bring new deposits to the Bank and connect customers with the solutions that meet their needs. The BDO takes a relationship-based approach, working with customers to understand their full banking needs and partnering with branch, treasury, lending, and other Bank specialists to recommend solutions and establish a comprehensive banking relationship. The BDO also helps develop and implement branch calling activities and recommends business development goals for the assigned region. The BDO is responsible for identifying lending opportunities within customer relationships and partnering closely with commercial lending teams to ensure customers' current and future borrowing needs are evaluated and supported as part of a comprehensive banking relationship.Areas of ImpactBusiness Development
- Proactively identify and pursue new business opportunities to grow commercial deposits and expand customer relationships.
- Lead deposit gathering efforts by proactively calling on high-value existing and prospective commercial customers through a structured business development call program.
- Develop and maintain relationships with local professionals and business contacts to generate referrals, attract new commercial customers, and grow deposit relationships.
- Engage clients in consultative conversations to understand their current banking relationships and broader financial needs, recommend appropriate Bank products and services, and identify lending opportunities for referral to commercial lending partners.
- Identify opportunities to expand customer relationships through additional products and services, including lending, insurance, Clover merchant services, commercial purchasing cards, Wealth Management, retirement solutions, and other investment services, as appropriate.
- Build a pipeline of new and expanded commercial deposit relationships by identifying client operating, liquidity, cash-management, and treasury, and borrowing needs, needs and connecting clients with appropriate Bank solutions and specialists, including commercial lending partners when credit opportunities are identified.
- Document client, prospect, COI, deposit opportunity, and referral activity to support disciplined follow-up and pipeline management.
Relationship Management
- Take an active role in developing the customer’s overall relationship with the Bank, working closely with internal partners to address current needs and identify future opportunities.
- Partner closely with Branch Managers and Treasury Management to onboard new account relationships and ensure coordinated customer experience.
- Maintain ongoing partnerships with commercial lending teams to identify, refer, and support customers' current and future borrowing needs, ensuring lending opportunities are proactively addressed as part of the overall customer relationship.
- Coordinate with lending, treasury, branch, Wealth Management, insurance, merchant services, and other Bank partners to ensure customers have access to the appropriate expertise and solutions across the Bank.
- Discuss customer needs, questions, and concerns and ensure appropriate follow-up by the responsible Bank partner.
- Coordinate meetings between customers or prospects and appropriate Bank representatives to support the customer’s broader banking relationship.
Market Research and Product Development
- Compile and analyze customer and market information to identify deposit-gathering opportunities, relationship trends, and unmet client needs.
- Develop and submit ideas for new or enhanced products, services, or approaches to the Business Development Manager based on client and market feedback.
Regulatory Compliance & Knowledge
- Maintain current knowledge of applicable State and Federal regulations and Bank requirements related to business development, marketing, deposits, and referral activities.
Lead Generation & Follow-Up
- Identify and develop business development leads from customers, Centers of Influence (COIs), internal partners, and other referral sources to support commercial deposit growth, uncover lending opportunities, and develop new customer relationships.
- Consistently follow up on prospective customer opportunities and referrals to convert leads into new business and expand existing relationships.
- Actively foster and model Columbia Bank’s culture by promoting collaboration, accountability, and a high-performance, client-centric mindset.
What Will Help You Stand Out
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
- 5+ years of experience in commercial banking, business development, relationship management, or a related field is required.
- Demonstrated success developing commercial relationships and generating new business, with the ability to identify and pursue deposit opportunities.
- Established network of business contacts and Centers of Influence, with the ability to convert relationships into meaningful business opportunities.
- Strong communication, negotiation, consultative selling, and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to work independently while building effective, ongoing partnerships across deposit, treasury, lending, and other Bank teams.
Preferred Qualifications
- History of community involvement through volunteerism and/or representation with charitable organizations.
- Relationships with local, regional, and national nonprofit organizations.
- Background in both retail and commercial banking environments
Technology Qualifications
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Excel, Word, and Teams.
- Comfortable using multiple systems and digital tools in a fast-paced banking environment.
- Strong computer skills, including virtual collaboration, document management, and reporting tools.
- Exposure to or willingness to learn emerging workplace technologies is highly desired.
How We Take Care of You
Build a stronger future for yourself, your family and the communities we serve. At Columbia Bank, meaningful work comes together with a collaborative and rewarding culture, opportunities to learn and grow, and a total rewards package designed to support your health, financial security and overall wellbeing. Benefits include healthcare choice, retirement savings with company support, employee ownership, wellness resources, education and student loan programs, paid time off and financial protection. Join a company where your contribution is valued, your growth is supported and your career can make a meaningful impact.
The hours that you will dedicate to work: This position currently follows a hybrid schedule of 3 in-office days and 2 remote days per week. Effective January 4, 2027, the schedule will transition to 4 in-office days and 1 remote day per week. Hybrid work arrangements are subject to business needs and may change.
Columbia Bank and its affiliates is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including individuals with disabilities and veterans.
