In today’s fast-paced business environment, staying informed is key to making confident financial decisions. Our ‘Ask the Experts’ Q&A series is designed to connect you with seasoned banking professionals who are ready to provide practical advice and strategic guidance tailored to your business needs. Join us as we tackle real-world topics and empower you with the knowledge to thrive.
Jess Seburn
Executive Vice President and Director of Sales for Business Banking
Jess Seburn is Executive Vice President and Director of Sales for Business Banking at M&T Bank. He has more than 25 years of financial services experience spanning business banking, mortgage banking, and wholesale lending.
He joined M&T in 2008 through the Relationship Management Development Program and has served in several leadership roles across the organization. Jess holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and serves on the Consumer Bankers Association Small Business Committee.
Building financial confidence:
Common questions and clear answers to help you grow.
How do you balance the need for relationship‑driven banking with the growing demand for digital and self‑service solutions?
Business owners want banking to be simple for everyday needs, but they still want a trusted person to call when something is more complex. We focus on delivering the best of both worlds: the personal guidance clients trust and the digital convenience they increasingly expect. Clients want the convenience of digital tools for routine tasks, along with the confidence that comes from having a banker who understands their business and can help them think through bigger decisions.
That’s why we continue to invest in digital and self-service tools that make daily banking easier and more efficient. Whether it’s mobile check deposit, online treasury services, wires, ACH payments, or real-time account monitoring, clients should be able to handle routine activity quickly, securely, and on their own schedule.
Just as important, those tools should support the relationship—not replace it. When clients need guidance on cash flow, borrowing, growth plans, or a challenge they didn’t see coming, they still want someone who knows them and can help. Our goal is to make day-to-day banking easier while staying close to clients when advice and experience matter most. That human connection remains at the core of everything we do.
What are the biggest challenges business owners face when accessing capital today, and how is our team helping solve those challenges?
Many business owners struggle to understand when and how to approach a bank for capital or what options may be available to them. That is especially true for newer businesses, which may not know about educational resources, grants, or government-backed lending programs like SBA financing. In many cases, the need is not just funding, it’s guidance.
Our team helps by acting as both a resource and a connector. We work with business owners to understand where they are, what they are trying to accomplish, and which solutions make sense for that stage of growth. Programs like the Small Business Accelerator Program and Client Connectors are designed to give owners practical education, useful introductions, and more confidence as they make decisions about their business.
From your perspective, what differentiates our business banking solutions from others in the market?
What truly differentiates our approach is that we bring the full capabilities of the bank directly to each client. By understanding where the business is today and where the owner wants to go next, we deliver tailored solutions that foster long‑term relationships.
For many business owners, needs change over time. What matters early on may be very different from what matters when a company is expanding, preparing for succession, or thinking about an eventual exit. By connecting business banking with broader capabilities across the bank, including personal wealth and long-term planning, we can help clients make decisions with more clarity and continuity.
What skills or qualities do you believe are most important for today’s business banking sales professionals?
The most important qualities are listening, curiosity, responsiveness, and a strong understanding of how businesses operate. Business owners can tell when someone is simply trying to sell them something and when someone is genuinely working to understand their goals. Financial knowledge is essential, but so is the ability to ask thoughtful questions, connect ideas, and follow through. Today’s bankers also need to work well across teams and use digital tools effectively so they can deliver advice that is informed, timely, and practical.
How do you see technology—like AI, automation, or data analytics—changing the way bankers support business clients?
AI is becoming a powerful complement to human relationship‑building. Technology is changing the way bankers support clients by providing insight into client behaviors, patterns, and needs that we might not otherwise identify as quickly. Ultimately, technology strengthens the banker‑client relationship by helping us show up smarter, faster, and more proactively than ever.
The goal is not to remove the human side of banking. It’s to give bankers better information and more time to focus on conversations that help clients solve problems, plan ahead, and make decisions with confidence.
According to statistics released by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for total approved loans through the SBA's 7(a) lending program during the federal fiscal year ending 9/30/2025.
All loans, lines of credit and all terms referenced herein are subject to receipt of a complete M&T application, credit approval and other conditions. Terms offered are available for business purpose loans only, but are not available for refinancing or consolidating existing M&T credit or credit requiring an SBA loan guaranty. Loans may be subject to commitment and prepayment fees, as applicable. Borrower is responsible for any appraisal, environment assessment, title insurance, and bank attorney fees that may apply. Other terms, conditions, fees, and restrictions may apply.
Unless otherwise specified, all advertised offers and terms and conditions of accounts and services are subject to change at any time without notice. After an account is opened or service begins, it is subject to its features, conditions and terms, which are subject to change at any time in accordance with applicable laws and agreements. Please contact an M&T representative for details.
This article is for informational purposes. It is not designed or intended to provide financial, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice since such advice always requires consideration of individual circumstances. Please consult with the professionals of your choice to discuss your situation.