What do you look for in a bank manager?

[Chris(tina!)]

I've already owned up to working for a bank, so I may as well stick my head above the parapet (I think that's the right expression!) and ask what you look for in a business banking manager - I could also take some of the comments back to the bank I work for, at least at a regional level.

Please don't flame me! I work for a bank I don't own one Also bank managers can't be superheroes so you won't find a manager who can lend a business with no profits a million pounds in five minutes

[Fuzzy]

Someone with a bit of business experience would be handy ... I have never met one

[dave_n]

someone who has been a bank manager in the same branch for years and knows the local businesses....finding one is another matter....my bank manager has as much business acumen as my dog

[boxby]

A real person
A direct line
An email address
A Mobile Number
A sense of humour
Someone who will come to you once a year rather than you go to them for the annual review
Someone who takes an interest in your business
Someone who does what you ask when you ask it.

[Chris(tina!)]

Someone with a bit of business experience would be handy ... I have never met one

I agree Fuzzy. Actually I partly agree. There are some business managers with a good grasp of business and accounting (which I think is really important). They should really be seen as a support to the accountants in that way though.

My bank has kind of noticed that and is giving training to the managers so hopefully that will show through.

i would love for more of the managers to have a greater grasp of business and in some ways I think the automation of banking is partly to blame. I do work with one or two fantastic managers though and one or two who are pretty bad.

I think I've talked about business knowledge instead of business experience That's because I haven't met many managers who had a background in business before joining the bank. At least not in a decision making capacity or running their own business.

There used to be more banking exams the managers could take but these have been cut back over the years. That may have something to do with it.

[Chris(tina!)]

someone who has been a bank manager in the same branch for years and knows the local businesses....finding one is another matter....my bank manager has as much business acumen as my dog

I agree with the first part of your post but can't comment on the second one!

I wish that people did stay in position more. Part of the problem about managers not knowing the local area also lies with the fact that a customer may open an account in one area but get transferred to a manager in another area or the customer moves and the account stays in the original managers portfolio. I was looking at a list of accounts the other day and saw businesses from areas miles/counties away.

When I first started to work in banking, I knew people who had been with the same branch most of their working life. They knew the customers, the area, the environment. That doesn't happen anymore and I think that this is the same in a lot of businesses. It's all that 'no job is for life' thing.

I don't really know whether that will change at all - sorry, that's not the greatest thing to say to you!

[boxby]

And someone you can be honest and upfront with, who you know is then thinking about you, rather than their points & targets.

[Andy Trish]

my business bank manager is great.

he is approachable, knowlegeable, passes me info on new products rather than pushes them and he shows he is interested in my success. he has also given me discounts no other business manager would before him.

[Fuzzy]

my business bank manager is great.

he is approachable, knowlegeable, passes me info on new products rather than pushes them and he shows he is interested in my success. he has also given me discounts no other business manager would before him.

Share him then...who you bank with?

[Fuzzy]

I have just opened a Business Bank Account today, we don't need a loan or overdraft, just somewhere for our money and how damn hard was it to set up an account , crikey, it was if we were asking for the crown jewels. One bank wanted a cashflow forecast and BP