SXU Alumna Named Vice President of Middle Market Commercial Banking, First American
Saint Xavier University (SXU) alumna Courtney Joyce '18 has been appointed vice president of middle market commercial banking for First American Bank.
In her new role, Joyce will provide value to middle market businesses through lending, advising on financial decisions, and making connections that help business owners strengthen and grow their networks.
"To me, commercial banking sits right at the intersection of finance and relationships. It's not just about underwriting deals or analyzing financials; it's about understanding a business as a whole. Every set of financials tells a story, and it's my job to connect that story to the owner's goals and help them move forward," said Joyce.
Joyce is especially drawn to the need to balance two sides: analytical skills through cash flow, structure and risk on one side and building trust with clients and acting as their partner in growth on the other. Her goals include building lasting relationships and being someone clients can rely on for both financing and guidance, bringing in new business, and becoming a true advisor by understanding industries, anticipating client needs, and helping clients make better financial decisions.
"I've been tasked with helping First American Bank grow its commercial presence, specifically in the south suburbs, which is home to me. What drew me to First American Bank was the culture and how it takes a relationship-first approach built around local decision-making, long-term partnership, and genuinely understanding each client's goals," said Joyce.
Joyce, who studied accounting and business management while at Saint Xavier, has always been interested in understanding how things work, especially when it comes to money and business.
"Early on, I realized that behind every company, there's a set of numbers telling a story, whether they're growing, struggling, or making big decisions. That's what initially drew me to accounting – I liked the idea of being able to break down financials and really understand what was going on beneath the surface," said Joyce.
As she got further into it, though, she didn't just want to understand the numbers – she wanted to understand the decisions and processes behind them.
"Business management gave me a broader perspective on strategy, leadership and how businesses actually operate day to day. Getting to understand both the company and the people behind the operations has been especially rewarding," added Joyce.
Joyce chose SXU because of its close-knit environment and smaller class sizes, and she appreciated being able to build strong relationships with professors and classmates.
"The sense of community at SXU really stood out to me, and the combination of accounting and business management made perfect sense. Accounting gave me the foundation while business management helped me connect it to the bigger picture of how companies grow and succeed," said Joyce.
While at SXU, Joyce was on the volleyball team and named an AVCA-NAIA All American Honorable Mention in 2017. Today, she stays connected to the SXU volleyball community through her husband, Jake Olson, who serves as an assistant coach for the men's volleyball program.
"Athletics at SXU taught me discipline, teamwork, resilience, and how to perform under pressure – all skills that continue to help me professionally today," said Joyce.
In addition to the skills gained from athletics, SXU also gave Joyce a strong academic foundation and taught her the value of relationships, communication and teamwork.
"The smaller class sizes created an environment where I was able to build meaningful connections with professors, classmates and teammates, and that relationship-focused mindset is something I still carry into my career today. Playing volleyball also helped shape my work ethic and competitive mindset. It taught me how to prepare, adapt under pressure, and work toward a common goal as part of a team – skills I rely on every day in banking," said Joyce.
One of Joyce's favorite parts of her time at SXU was building relationships with the students in her accounting classes.
"The Accounting program was challenging, but I was fortunate to be surrounded by wonderful classmates who supported one another and worked together throughout the program. I also had amazing professors across all areas of study, but Dr. [Alexander] King had the biggest impact on me. He was the person who encouraged me to join accounting after I originally planned to pursue nursing. That guidance ultimately helped my career path," said Joyce.
After Joyce graduated from SXU, she began her career in commercial banking at Wintrust, where she spent several years developing experience across credit analysis, portfolio management, and relationship management before becoming vice president.
"What I enjoy most about banking is the people. Every business owner has a different story, different challenges, and different goals. I enjoy building relationships, understanding what clients are trying to accomplish, and helping them find solutions that support their growth. At the end of the day, banking is really about trust and relationships," said Joyce.
As she looks to the future, Joyce is focused on continuing to grow her career at First American Bank while building meaningful, long-term relationships with business owners throughout the Chicago area. Outside of work, she wants to stay connected to the things that matter most to her, including supporting her husband's involvement in the SXU men's volleyball program and serving as treasurer for Park Lawn, a nonprofit organization that supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Most importantly, she is the proud mother to three children and loves helping them grow, supporting their goals, and watching them achieve them.