Position Title: Commercial Banking Trainee

Locations: Rockford_IL

Time Type: Full time

Req ID: JR1335-Rockford_IL

At Midland, we’re proud to be a little different. You can see it in our bright orange signs-but there’s more to it than that. With our heartfelt and personalized approach, we’re focused on meeting every customer’s needs with the brightest solutions.

For more than 140 years, we’ve learned by serving customers skillfully with dedication and follow-through, we can brighten every interaction to drive our collective success. And this goes beyond traditional banking.

We foster programs that empower our communities, continuously invest in our employees, and actively pursue brighter futures for all.

Our humble ambition keeps us growing, giving back, and looking ahead. We’re innovating and optimizing our services to ensure we stay unique - providing strength you can count on with heart you can feel.

You might say we’re unlike any other bank.

And you’d be right."

At Midland States Bank, base salary is one component of our Total Rewards program. Exact compensation is determined by factors such as (but not limited to) education, skills, internal equity, and experience. This position offers additional compensation in the form of short-term incentives (i.e. bonus and/or commission) and may include long-term incentives (i.e. stock awards). Benefits for this role include comprehensive healthcare, well-being benefits, paid family leave as well as generous paid time off. Total Rewards also include banking perks, an Employee Stock Purchase Plan, 401K plan with company match and may include the opportunity to participate in our Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation plan. Incentives and benefits are subject to eligibility requirements.

Commercial Banking Trainee

Salary Range: $55,000 - $65,000 annually

Position Summary

The Commercial Banking Trainee is a structured development role assigned to the Commercial Development Program at Midland States Bank. The Commercial Banking Trainee will participate in a 12-month, full-time development program focused on building deep credit expertise and foundational relationship banking skills. The role offers high-potential candidates the opportunity to learn the business from the inside out—starting in Credit and evolving into client-facing work alongside experienced commercial bankers. Successful graduates of the program are expected to transition into a production role within Commercial Banking.

Primary Accountabilities

Phase 1: Credit Immersion (Months 1–9)

Participants will work under the direct supervision of the Credit Department, following a structured credit training curriculum.

Key experiences include:

• Analyzing borrower financials and assessing risk
• Preparing credit memos and participating in loan committee processes
• Monitoring covenants and managing ongoing credit reporting
• Gaining exposure to C&I and CRE lending fundamentals
• Building the foundation for sound credit judgment and decision-making

Phase 2: Sales Readiness & Cross-Functional Exposure (Months 10–12)

Participants will rotate through Midland’s core banking functions and begin preparing

for client-facing responsibilities. Key experiences include:

• Shadowing with business partners, such as Wealth Advisors, treasury sales professionals, and Banking Center Managers, loan documentation and funding specialists, etc.
• Participating in joint prospect/client calls with Commercial Relationship Managers
• Practicing pre-call planning and Midland’s team-based sales approach, “The V”
• Completing 10+ sales calls and developing comfort with lead generation, follow-up, and rejection

Other

• The role requires occasional travel for training and team meetings, and willingness to travel periodically, to locations within market as needed.
• May require work in a Midland office to ensure collaboration and support of internal and external customers.
• Maintain compliance with all applicable regulations including, but not limited to, the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA).
• Other duties as assigned.

Position Qualifications
Education/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in finance, economics or business preferred, or related field or equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Open to recent graduates, early career professionals, or individuals seeking transition into commercial banking.
• Internal candidates with experience in retail banking, credit analysis, or other support roles are also encouraged to apply.
• Strong communication skills – verbal and written.
• Coachability, resilience, and curiosity.
• Basic knowledge of financial statements or demonstrated aptitude to learn quickly.
• Comfort with ambiguity and initiative to seek out learning experiences.
• Relationship-first mindset and client service orientation.
• Willingness to engage in business development and hear "no" with grace.
• Desire and ability to grow into a full-time sales role upon graduation.

Competencies:

• Business insight
• Cultivates innovation
• Drives results
• Makes sound decisions
• Being a brand champion
• Collaborates
• Communicates effectively
• Customer focus
• Being Authentic
• Emotional Intelligence
• Self development
• Being flexible and adaptable

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to Midland States Bank Human Resources at HR@midlandsb.com.

THIS JOB DESCRIPTION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A CONTRACT FOR EMPLOYMENT

At Midland States Bank, we believe that when we can bring our whole selves to work each day, we become happier, more comfortable, more confident and more excited to do great things for our customers, each other and our company. We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. At Midland, we recruit, employ, train, compensate and promote without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. If you are looking for a place to grow, we encourage you to apply at Midland States Bank, because you belong here.

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to Midland States Bank Human Resources at HR@midlandsb.com.

Midland States Bank may use automated tools and artificial intelligence (“AI”) to assist with recruiting, screening, and hiring decisions. In accordance with the Illinois Human Rights Act (effective January 1, 2026), these tools are designed and monitored to be neutral and job-related, and must not be used in a way that discriminates against applicants or employees based on any protected characteristic.

THIS JOB DESCRIPTION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A CONTRACT FOR EMPLOYMENT