What is it like being a relationship banker? is prospecting a big part?

As with LIVEINMD said, Relationship Banker is nothing more than a Sales Banker.

If you want to work in the retail side of banking, you WILL need to prospect or cold call customers. Every retail banker, teller, manager, etc cold calls customer. Retail banking is a SALES oriented division. Its the part of the bank that makes money, the most important of the bank.

There are no more cushy bankers hours and job descriptions. Today's in branch banker, teller, managers have a hustle because banks imposes VERY HIGH sales goals and quotas on their retail employees. Its a fast pace, high stress job. Banking is not easy and not for the timid.

There are hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly sales and referral goals that must be met by ALL retail employees. I've worked at some of the largest banks in the country and they are all the same ... meet your sales requirements or quit or be fired.

As a banker, you'll be required to sell Checking, Savings, Financial Checkups, Loans, Lines of Credit, Mortgages, Investments products, etc. You'll be required to leave the branch, go out in the community, and drum up new business. You'll need to get to know all owners and managers of retail/companies in your branch area and push them to open bank products and services with you. You'll need to cold call, email, set up meetings with prospects. Most of your day will be on the phone, working from a list of people's name, calling and trying to get a meeting with them in order to sell them something.

You're entire day revolves around sales but on top of that, you'll have to do customer service request. Order checks, change addresses, resolve bank errors, refund money, take complaints, follow up back up with customers, inter-office bank dealings,. etc. You'll start to see servicing customers as a nuisance because most of these people don't want any new products and you need to be on top of your sales goal.

For the amount of work thats involved in retail banking and the educational requirements, one would think you'd get payed more but you don't. The average License Banker (series 7, 6, 65 etc) are only paid around $40,000. You get commission on selling products but the commission rate is low. Oh, did I tell you, most Personal Bankers have 6 months to study for their Series Licenses and if you don't pass on the first or second try, you could be fired! The average retail employee works 11-12 hours daily plus Saturdays. Bankers get in early to catch up on cold callings and sales leads because when those branch doors open, you will not have time to drum up sales opportunities, instead you'll be servicing customers. So you'll also be the last one to leave in the branch every day.

So if you don't want to cold call and prospect customers, then retail banking is not for you. If you can continue selling, keep your sales goals way above the monthly threshold, you'll be able to keep your jobs just that much longer.

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RE:
What is it like being a relationship banker? is prospecting a big part?
I need to make more money than a teller to support myself. I am just graduating college and I'm confident I can get the job, but not sure that I want it...

I just want to have my own office, help customers open/alter accounts based on their needs, deal with software (I'm very computer...

At most banks, relationship banker is another, nicer term for sales person. Most of your performance and income will be based on how much business you bring in and how much revenue your clients generate for the bank. If your good, you will make great money, but I am with you about dreading having sales quotas hanging over your head. Yes, you are expected to find customers. You network businesses and companies ( most banks like commercial money more than personal), convince them to move accounts, meet people through outside interests and find out if they are happy with who they have. You join organizations, volunteer and socialize with those who are in control of or who have direct access to various companies money people

Just

Chase Bank includes among the responsibilities of Relationship Manager :

". Responsibilities include the acquisition of new business through active calling on existing clients to solicit referrals and calling on targeted prospects."