Talent Solutions for Banks

For two decades , Smith & Wilkinson has set the bar for excellence in executive search for community banks nationwide to identify, assess, and place proven executive and senior leaders. Our clients have come to depend on our market expertise, our commitment to excellence, professionalism, candor, integrity, and of course results. Our tenured team of search professionals has experience representing clients across the spectrum of organizational missions, from those clients who view their roles as stewards of their customers’ money across generations to companies looking to get products to market with speed. Successfully completed engagements have included searches for Board Members, some of the most highly visible CEO searches in our space, and across functional areas of lending, credit, operations, technology, finance and accounting, risk management, human resources, wealth management, and marketing.

Your Trusted Partner for Talent Acquisition

With over two decades of experience in organizational consulting, our team is ready to help you find and hire the best talent available. Through our extensive network, we offer broad-ranging capabilities to the financial services sector, including community banks, credit unions, financial technology, and community and economic development. Our team lives and breathes financial services, and we share in your excitement for where our industry is headed.

Our search assignments encompass nearly all seniority levels and functional areas of the financial services ecosystem, offering our clients and candidates maximum visibility into the talent market.

Key Challenges We Help You Solve

Community and regional institutions face unique pressures: regulatory scrutiny, talent flight to larger banks, digital transformation, and succession planning. Our Financial Services team understands the dynamics shaping your institution, and can help you maximize your talent.

Executive Assessment & Succession Planning

Many banks are experiencing generational transitions in their leadership teams, yet fewer than 50% of banks have a formal succession plan for the CEO or other key roles. We partner with Boards and CEOs to assess internal talent for development and selection, helping identify future-focused, values-driven leaders who can carry the organization forward with purpose and continuity.

Executive Search

We understand that leadership in today’s banking environment requires a deep commitment to member relationships, local impact, and long-term growth. That’s why our team leverages deep industry expertise and an extensive network within the financial services sector to deliver diverse candidate pools, timely insights, and trusted strategic guidance throughout every search to ensure we find you the right leader who reflects your bank’s values, vision, and community focus.

Executive Coaching

At S&W, we understand the unique challenges bank executives face in balancing growth, regulatory expectations, and exceptional customer service. Our one-on-one executive coaching provides CEOs and senior leaders with confidential, strategic support to help them navigate complexity, strengthen leadership effectiveness, and achieve organizational goals. Guided by experienced coaches who understand the community banking landscape, our process empowers executives to enhance performance, foster team alignment, and drive lasting customer and community value.

Group Leadership Development

Investing in leadership development for high-potential managers strengthens your bank’s culture and builds the pipeline of future leaders. Our small-group programs deliver leadership training with the depth, quality, and personalization that many small and mid-sized banks can’t easily provide internally. Designed to foster growth, collaboration, and confidence, these sessions help participants refine their leadership skills, strengthen team dynamics, and prepare to take on greater responsibility, resulting in a more engaged, empowered workforce ready to drive performance, enhance customer relationships, and support your bank’s long-term success.

Employee Engagement Surveys

High levels of employee engagement directly correlate with exceptional business performance and customer satisfaction; however, you can’t manage what you can’t measure. Using the market-leading Qualtrics survey platform, Smith & Wilkinson delivers actionable insights into organizational culture and leadership climate, enabling strategic leadership development and culture-shaping initiatives that strengthen engagement across the bank.

Team Building Workshops & Offsite Leadership Retreats

Strategic leadership working retreats give bank leaders the opportunity to step away from daily demands and reconnect with their shared mission, values, and long-term goals. Designed to fit your organization and facilitated by Smith & Wilkinson, these customized workshops create space for clarity, collaboration, and candid dialogue, helping leadership teams strengthen alignment around cultural and strategic priorities. By focusing on purpose, relationships, and results, our retreats foster deeper connection and trust while equipping leaders with the insight and cohesion needed to guide their banks forward with confidence, unity, and a renewed commitment to the customers and communities they serve.

Partner with Smith & Wilkinson

Let’s build the leadership foundation for your bank’s next chapter. We respond quickly to discuss your priorities, success profile, and hiring timeline.

Simply fill out the contact form, and one of our Financial Services experts will reach out.

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Testimonials

Smith & Wilkinson did an excellent job of listening and learning about our history, growth, and culture translating that into a description of the bank and the position we wanted to fill. They were were with us during all the interviews, helping to establish a framework and their insights and observations were most helpful. We found them to be very energetic and focused, with timely follow through. They also communicated frequently so that we were always up to date on the progress of the search process.
Board Directo, Cape & Coast Bank
Our experience with Smith & Wilkinson was a very positive one. I would, without hesitation, highly recommend them based upon their expertise in banking, their awareness of the CEO environment in the Northeast and their performance in our search.
Board Chairman, Greenfield Savings Bank
Our experience working with Smith & Wilkinson proved to be an excellent one. I highly recommend them based on our experience as well as their demonstrated knowledge, professionalism, integrity, and results.
Board Chairman, Easthampton Savings Bank
Chris was great. Kept the communications moving along and was quick to answer questions or get the answer for me. Very personable.
VP, Trust Officer
Moriah and Cameron were professional at all times, clear and available. They represented their clients well and were thorough with expectations and timelines.
President and CEO, New Haven Bank

Our Financial Services Team

Cameron Boyd

Managing Partner, Financial Services Practice

Chris Kelley

Senior Partner, Director, Financial Services Practice

Moriah Callahan

Partner, Director of Recruiting, Financial Services Practice

Darcy Flaherty

Consultant, Financial Services Practice

William Wegener

Senior Associate, Financial Services Practice

Jake Strong

Associate, Financial Services Practice

Julia Crouter

Senior Associate, Financial Services Practice

Current Opportunities

President & CEO

Posted:

  • Practice Area:
  • Financial Services
  • Region:
  • Vermont
President

Posted:

  • Practice Area:
  • Financial Services
  • Region:
  • New York
SVP, Director of Operations

Posted:

  • Practice Area:
  • Financial Services
  • Region:
  • Pennsylvania
AVP/VP Commercial Lender

Posted:

  • Practice Area:
  • Financial Services
  • Region:
  • Vermont
Chief People and Culture Officer

Posted:

  • Practice Area:
  • Financial Services
  • Region:
  • Connecticut
SVP, People and Culture

Posted:

  • Practice Area:
  • Financial Services
  • Region:
  • Pennsylvania
Chief Commercial Banking Officer

Posted:

  • Practice Area:
  • Financial Services
  • Region:
  • Massachusetts
VP, Auto Lending

Posted:

  • Practice Area:
  • Financial Services
  • Region:
  • Massachusetts
VP, Deposit Operations Manager

Posted:

  • Practice Area:
  • Financial Services
  • Region:
  • Maine
Chief Financial Officer

Posted:

  • Practice Area:
  • Financial Services
  • Region:
  • Massachusetts
Marketing Manager

Posted:

  • Practice Area:
  • Financial Services
  • Region:
  • New York
SVP, Retail & Growth Officer

Posted:

  • Practice Area:
  • Financial Services
  • Region:
  • New Hampshire
Chief Operations Officer

Posted:

  • Practice Area:
  • Financial Services
  • Region:
  • New Jersey
Director of Strategic Insights

Posted:

  • Practice Area:
  • Financial Services
VP, Human Resources Manager

Posted:

  • Practice Area:
  • Financial Services
  • Region:
  • Maine
Director of Information Technology

Posted:

  • Practice Area:
  • Financial Services
  • Region:
  • Massachusetts
VP of Lending

Posted:

  • Practice Area:
  • Financial Services
  • Region:
  • Maine
Wealth Management & Trust Officer

Posted:

  • Practice Area:
  • Financial Services
  • Region:
  • Massachusetts
Chief Information Officer

Posted:

  • Practice Area:
  • Financial Services
  • Region:
  • Maine
Vice President, Senior Human Resources Manager

Posted:

  • Practice Area:
  • Financial Services
  • Region:
  • Massachusetts