A hot M&A market is intensifying the talent wars. Competitors are targeting commercial lenders and other revenue producers with large bonuses, equity packages, and new roles, according to an article in Bank Director. Some disruption is inevitable in any merger, but the scale and speed of recent deals are raising the stakes for retention.
The dynamic cuts both ways. Banks that lose key relationship managers may not realize the full value of a deal. At the same time, an active M&A market creates rare recruiting opportunities for competitors willing to move quickly.
Do your recruiting strategies include a plan for competitors that announce mergers? Do your M&A plans explicitly model the risk of losing revenue-producing bankers and their client relationships? What strategies or incentives do you use to retain them during periods of uncertainty?