We're a leading financial institution, a key player in the Maltese market and part of a highly diversified multi-national group of companies. With a team of over 270 employees, the Bank offers a full range of lending and savings solutions to both personal and business customers. We strive to offer a highly personalised service through our network of thirteen retail branches spread across the Maltese Islands.

We are a team of inspired people who believe that opportunities start with a conversation.

Duties & Responsibilities

The Chief Banking Officer is the first-line business leader responsible for the end-to-end performance of Retail and Corporate/Commercial banking. The CBO owns customer growth, product strategy, distribution, and P&L for these businesses—driving sustainable revenue (NII and fees), portfolio quality within approved risk appetite, and a best-in-class customer experience. The role partners closely with the CFO, CRO, COO, and CTO to deliver commercial outcomes while meeting all regulatory and conduct expectations.

Scope clarification: The CBO’s remit covers Retail & Corporate/Commercial businesses (including SME, lending, deposits, payments/cards, digital sales, and distribution). 

Key responsibilities

1. Strategy & growth

• Define and execute the multi-year strategy for Retail and Corporate/Commercial banking, aligned to the Bank’s plan and risk appetite.
• Build segmented value propositions (consumer, affluent, micro-SME, SME, mid-corporate) with clear acquisition, deepening, and retention plays.
• Lead product portfolio strategy across lending (secured/unsecured, trade & working capital), deposits, payments/cards.
• Translate strategy into executable annual plans with targets, budgets, and resource plans.
  

2. P&L ownership & performance management

• Own P&L for Retail and Corporate/Commercial: loan/deposit growth, NII & NIM, fee income, cross-sell, and cost-to-serve within approved budgets.
• Manage pricing and margin discipline across assets and liabilities via ALCO; oversee campaign economics and product profitability.
• Run a rigorous performance cadence (dashboards, accountabilities, course-corrections).

3. Distribution, channels & customer experience

• Lead branch network productivity, corporate coverage, and business development.
• Partner with Digital/Technology on online/mobile sales funnels, onboarding, and straight-through journeys; drive digital adoption and usage.
• Champion customer experience (NPS/CSAT), complaint reduction, and root-cause fixes.

4. Credit origination & portfolio health (First Line)

• Ensure high-quality origination within policy and delegated authorities, with strong pre-screening and early-warning routines.
• Optimise portfolio mix, concentration limits, and risk-adjusted returns; monitor delinquency and implement remediation actions with Collections/Recovery teams.
• Maintain robust first-line controls, MI, and governance across conduct, AML/CFT front-line responsibilities, and product governance.

5. Product governance & change delivery

• Chair/drive product governance for Retail & Corporate (business cases, fair-value, fees, T&Cs, disclosures, testing, client outcomes).
• Sponsor change initiatives impacting the businesses (payments, cards, onboarding, analytics/CRM), partnering with COO/CTO for delivery.

6. Stakeholder & regulatory engagement

• Represent Retail/Corporate businesses to regulators (MFSA/CBM) alongside the CEO and CRO; ensure adherence to applicable laws, EBA guidelines, and local directives.
• Prepare and present to Board/Committees (Risk, Conduct, CNC as needed) on strategy, performance, customer outcomes, and remediation.

7. Leadership & culture

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing, values-driven team with clear succession.
• Embed strong 1LoD risk culture, data-driven decision making, and treating customers fairly.

Success measures (illustrative KPIs)

• Growth & revenue: Loan and deposit growth vs. plan; NII/NIM; fee income; RAROC/RoRWA.
• Portfolio quality: Early-delinquency and NPL ratios within appetite; concentration metrics.
• Customer outcomes: NPS/CSAT; complaint volumes and ageing; time-to-yes/time-to-cash.
• Commercial discipline: Pricing yield vs. benchmark; product profitability and fair-value assessments.
• Control environment: First-line audit/regulatory findings—closure on time; conduct risk events; AML front-line control effectiveness.
• People & culture: Engagement scores; critical-role succession coverage; diversity and development metrics.

Qualifications & experience

• 12–15+ years in banking with significant leadership across Retail and/or Corporate/Commercial segments; Tier 1 or Tier 2 experience preferred with significant international exposure.
• Demonstrated ownership of business P&L and delivery of profitable growth with sound portfolio quality.
• Strong grasp of EU/Maltese banking regulation affecting customer businesses (consumer credit, conduct, AML/CFT front-line responsibilities, payments/cards, product governance).
• Proven track record running multi-channel distribution and partnering to deliver digital sales and onboarding journeys.
• Experienced in credit origination frameworks (policies, delegations, early warning) and first-line risk management.
• Board/Committee engagement and regulator-facing experience.
• Degree in Business/Finance/Economics (Master’s preferred).
• Fluency in English; Maltese is an advantage.

Skills & attributes

• Commercially astute, data-driven, and execution-focused.
• Clear, concise communicator with strong stakeholder management.
• Decisive leader who sets high standards and builds accountability.
• Pragmatic innovator—able to simplify, digitise, and improve customer journeys.
• High integrity with a strong conduct and customer-fairness mindset.

Governance & interfaces

• Chairs/Member: Product Governance (Retail/Corporate); Business Performance forums.
• Key interfaces: CEO, CFO, CRO (risk appetite, policy, independent credit), COO (operations, service), CTO (digital/IT), Compliance & Legal, HR (people).
• Delegations: Business-line credit and pricing authorities in line with the Bank’s approved frameworks; adherence to three-lines-of-defence.

Why this role matters

As a growing Tier 2 bank, sustainable, discipline-led growth in Retail and Corporate/Commercial is pivotal to our strategy. The CBO turns strategy into tangible outcomes—profitable portfolios, delighted customers, and zero-surprise governance.

What we Offer

• Ongoing personal development; 
• Preferential interest rates on home loans, personal loans and home value loans; 
• Comprehensive support for academic advancement through fully subsidized staff study loans; 
• Private clinic health insurance coverage, extendable to dependants; 
• Life insurance and personal accident cover; 
• Free ophthalmic examinations; 
• Private counselling sessions in collaboration with Richmond Foundation; 
• Additional half-day leave for birthday celebrations; 
• Annual performance appraisals and salary reviews; 
• €250 annual wellness allowance; 
• Complimentary mammogram screenings for female employees aged over 40 and PSA screenings for male employees aged over 40; 
• Flexible work arrangements (role permitting); and 
• Various corporate discounts. 

BNF Bank plc is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.