Pro practiceHead of SME Banking practice interview
Building a scalable SME banking franchise across acquisition, transaction services, credit, portfolio quality and relationship coverage. Practise the 6 questions interviewers ask for this role with follow-ups. Paid plans add scored feedback on every answer.
A Pro practice interview, on the Pro plan from ₦5,000 a month billed yearly, or on Premium.
- Lead
- 20 minutes
- 6 questions
- Scored feedback on paid plans
About the role
The Head of SME Banking must turn a fragmented business market into a focused and scalable franchise. The panel will test your ability to segment customers, use alternative evidence responsibly, connect lending with transaction activity and align teams around portfolio quality as well as growth.
How to prepare
- Define practical SME segments using business model, turnover pattern, value chain and financial needs.
- Prepare an example of improving SME acquisition, credit performance or customer activity at meaningful scale.
- Revise cash flow lending, behavioural data, early arrears and collections design for smaller businesses.
- Review current official CBN guidance that affects SME finance, customer due diligence and financial inclusion.
- Think through how partnerships and digital onboarding can expand reach without weakening ownership checks or credit discipline.
Common mistakes
- Treating all small businesses as one segment with the same product and risk approach.
- Using collateral as a substitute for understanding business cash flow.
- Celebrating application volumes without examining drawdown, account use and early arrears.
- Describing partnerships without clear economics, controls or accountability for customer outcomes.
What to expect
A real first-round interview
6 questions the way interviewers ask for this role, with follow-ups when an answer needs more.
Spoken, like the real thing
Speak your answers in your browser or the free desktop app, with live captions. You can ask the interviewer to repeat anything.
Scored on 5 areas
The things this interview weighs most. With a paid plan, your report shows how you did on each one.
A private report
On Plus, Pro and Premium: every answer scored, your strongest lines quoted and what to say differently next time. Interview creators never see it.
More finance practice
Head of Corporate Banking
Corporate banking strategy, portfolio quality, complex client relationships, revenue discipline and leadership of relationship teams.
FinanceProHead of Retail Banking
Setting retail banking strategy across products, distribution, credit and customer experience while delivering responsible growth.
FinanceProInvestment Banking Vice President
Deal leadership, valuation judgement, transaction execution, client advice and team oversight across complex mandates.