For More Information
Vice President-Commercial Relationship Manager Team Lead
As Busey Bank strengthens its position in the Indiana market, local leadership continues to prioritize the addition of high-impact associates to its Carmel-based team. Max Stutsman, who has been with the organization for nearly six years, was recently promoted to Vice President, Commercial Relationship Manager Team Lead, a move that brought him and his family to the Hoosier State in June.
“While considering what was necessary to expand Busey’s foothold in the market, it became clear that we needed a go-to individual who has the skills, experience and capacity for building relationships that we need to grow our business throughout Indiana,” said Skip Watson, Executive Vice President – Regional President with Busey. “Max has proven himself to be a strong leader who is highly respected by those he works with—whether it’s a fellow colleague or a valued client.”
Originally from Catlin, Illinois, Stutsman joined Busey in 2018 at its Champaign, Illinois-based headquarters. He quickly moved up the ranks from Commercial Portfolio Manager to Commercial Relationship Manager, working diligently to build strong connections with his clients and fellow associates.
“By working closely with our leadership team, I was able to develop great relationships and gain invaluable knowledge from them,” said Stutsman. “They are excited about the opportunities available in our Indiana Region and highly supportive of our efforts. Just knowing how much they want to help us succeed makes me confident that we will further develop in this market, and in a sustainable way.”
In his expanded role, Stutsman will be responsible for managing and maintaining client relationships, while also overseeing a highly qualified team of Relationship and Portfolio Managers at Busey. He will also support comprehensive cross-functional client relationships across all business segments via the organization’s “One Busey” approach.
“In my time at Busey, I’ve been able to gain great experience and truly come to understand the company’s One Busey approach to serving clients,” Stutsman says. “We bring all the products, services and expert resources Busey offers to each interaction with a client, and it’s truly a difference maker.”
While moving away from relatives and friends was not an easy decision for Stutsman and his family, the opportunity to play a larger part in Busey’s plan for growth is what sold him.
“I know there’s a lot of potential here,” he said. “We only have one Indiana service center right now, but under Skip’s leadership, I believe there’s a lot of room for growth. We have a really well-rounded team, and a great foundation to grow organically and bring more personnel on.”
As far as how Stutsman sees himself contributing to the team, he’s confident that his willingness to embrace difficult tasks and his affinity for teamwork will help him fit right in.
“Everybody at Busey is willing to put in the time and effort to ensure we’re providing service excellence to our clients,” he said. “Not only that, but they’re willing to work together with a whole-team approach—which aligns well with the One Busey approach our bank offers. We can do just about anything that a client is looking for, and our willingness to work together to accomplish that is what makes me so excited.”
Stutsman says this ability to provide full-service relationships for clients, coupled with excellent customer service, is what separates Busey from its competitors.
“In addition to our regionalized approach and the full commercial banking capabilities we can provide, I think our biggest separator is communication and responsiveness,” he said. “Customers like being able to communicate and get an answer right when they need it. We can deliver the experience of a smaller community bank while still providing all of the same products and services as the nation’s largest banks. I think that’s something our clients truly appreciate.”
Even further, Busey’s conservative banking philosophy and strict credit discipline allow the bank to serve customers even during the toughest of economic times—another thing that Stutsman knows will help the business grow in Indiana.
“Busey is conservative, which is good for where we’re at in terms of the economic environment,” he said. “We have a very strong balance sheet, and I think that’s another thing that really sets us apart from our competition. It all comes back to having strong credit quality and a conservative approach.”
As Busey continues to embrace its regionalization model, Watson believes Stutsman is the perfect person to help Busey meet—and exceed—its goals in Indiana.
“Max’s thorough understanding of how the bank operates, coupled with our current network and relationships in the Indiana region, will allow us to maximize growth while also furthering our ability to serve the needs of our clients,” he said.•
Busey Bank. Member FDIC.