Inside Commercial Banking

Robert Bezede
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Careers
  • Updated Biweekly

A podcast made for commercial bankers, corporate bankers and middle market professionals interested in the business of lending money. We interview successful rainmakers and dealmakers in the commercial banking sector to uncover best practices to help you achieve career success.

  1. Jul 6

    Ep. 17 - Inside Special Loans: How Banks Manage Distressed Borrowers | Stanley Julien

    In this episode of Inside Commercial Banking, I sit down with Stanley Julien, a retired BMO executive who spent over 25 years leading Special Loans and Special Accounts Management, and now serves as a Partner in Richter's Crisis Management & Restructuring practice. We discuss the role of special loans teams, how lenders manage distressed borrowers, when a file is transferred from relationship banking, and the strategies used to preserve value through restructurings, forbearance agreements, court proceedings, and creative workout solutions. Stanley also shares career lessons from more than three decades in commercial banking, along with memorable restructuring stories and practical advice for bankers, business owners, and anyone interested in the world of commercial lending. Topics include: What Special Loans actually does Managing distressed commercial borrowers Covenant breaches and early warning signs CCAA, NOI and restructuring processes Personal guarantees and lender negotiations Career advice and real restructuring stories If you enjoy conversations about commercial banking, restructuring, private credit, and corporate finance, be sure to subscribe for future episodes. 03:11 Stanley Career Journey 06:30 Why Special Loans 07:43 Common Misconceptions About Special Loans 08:29 Skills Required for A Career in Special Loans 10:06 When Files Transfer What happens Next 12:05 Handoff Mistakes 16:39 Management Analysis 18:07 Restructuring Toolkit 20:03 Creative Deal Options 25:23 Court Process Triggers 27:12 Recovery Rates Reality 31:42 Syndicated Workout Dynamics 38:06 Liquidate or Restructure 39:54 Negotiation Under Pressure 40:45 Personal Guarantees Reality 43:36 Emotional Aspect Of the Job 47:22 Career Path in Special Loans 49:52 Life After Banking at Richter 52:02 Stanley's Favorite Deal #CommercialBanking #SpecialLoans #Restructuring #CorporateFinance #CommercialLending #Banking #CCAA #BusinessTurnaround #InsideCommercialBanking Inside Commercial Banking is the #1 training resource for commercial bankers and aspiring students looking to break into the sector and rise to the top. Join us as we interview commercial banking professionals and unlock the secrets of their success and best practices to help you succeed in the business of lending money. The Inside Commercial Banking podcast is hosted by Robert Bezede, a Canadian middle market M&A investment banker focused on selling Canadian companies valued between $3MM to $30MM. He is a partner at Harmony Succession Partners (HSP), a boutique M&A advisory firm based in Toronto, Canada. Robert started his career in commercial banking working with Roynat Capital, a division of Scotiabank. If you have a client that is looking to buy or sell a business in Canada, contact Robert and the Harmony Succession Partners (HSP) team today at: rbezede@harmonysuccession.com https://www.harmonysuccession.com/

  2. Jun 23

    Ep. 16 - Lessons from 25+ Years in Capital Markets and Debt Advisory with Grant Daunheimer

    In this episode of Inside Commercial Banking, I interview Grant Daunheimer, Founder and Partner of Diamond Willow Advisory, a Canadian debt advisory firm focused on helping middle-market companies raise between $10 million and $50 million of debt capital. Grant shares how his 17-year career in equity research shaped Diamond Willow's differentiated approach to debt advisory, combining deep diligence, strategic positioning, and thoughtful capital structure design to help companies access financing from both traditional banks and private credit providers. Grant also walks through the debt advisory process, including client fit, screening criteria, lender selection, timelines, fees, and the common issues that can derail a financing transaction. Grant also shares his perspective on the current lending environment, differences between the Canadian and U.S. credit markets, sectors facing pressure, and what business owners, lenders, and investors should expect over the next 12 months. Beyond financing, Grant discusses lessons learned from building a business, managing teams, navigating challenging situations, and executing turnaround mandates. 👉 Connect with Grant on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-daunheimer-39a890110/ Inside Commercial Banking is the #1 training resource for commercial bankers and aspiring students looking to break into the sector and rise to the top. Join us as we interview commercial banking professionals and unlock the secrets of their success and best practices to help you succeed in the business of lending money. The Inside Commercial Banking podcast is hosted by Robert Bezede, a Canadian middle market M&A investment banker focused on selling Canadian companies valued between $3MM to $30MM. He is a partner at Harmony Succession Partners (HSP), a boutique M&A advisory firm based in Toronto, Canada. Robert started his career in commercial banking working with Roynat Capital, a division of Scotiabank. If you have a client that is looking to buy or sell a business in Canada, contact Robert and the Harmony Succession Partners (HSP) team today at: rbezede@harmonysuccession.com https://www.harmonysuccession.com/ 👉 Subscribe for more episodes on finance, private credit, dealmaking, and entrepreneurship

  3. Jun 9

    The Credit Restructuring Process Explained: A Banker’s Guide with Murtaza Tallat

    In this episode, Murtaza Tallat of KSV Advisory (now Alix Partners Canada) explains what working in restructuring means, describing the role as “life support” for distressed companies and emphasizing a focus on cash flow management rather than traditional management consulting or EBITDA-driven operational strategy. He outlines how restructuring advisors may be engaged by lenders (often through special loans departments via forbearance agreements that include tighter reporting and an advisor mandate) or by companies seeking help negotiating with banks or initiating debtor-led processes. The conversation covers what it means when owners “hand over the keys,” including how receivership and court orders can compel cooperation and information sharing. Murtaza defines forbearance agreements and distinguishes insolvency processes, contrasting lender-driven receiverships—where a court-appointed receiver takes control from directors and officers—with CCAA debtor-in-possession proceedings, where a monitor provides oversight and reporting rather than running the business. 00:00 Restructuring Intro 01:59 Meet Murtaza Talat 02:17 What Restructuring Means 03:51 Cash Flow Focus 07:04 When Advisors Step In 10:18 Handing Over Keys 13:09 Forbearance Explained 14:41 Receivership vs CCAA 19:54 Monitor Trust Building 23:03 Stakeholder Negotiations 25:02 Value Maximization Choices 27:30 CCAA Timeline Steps 32:30 Crisis Communications Playbook 34:17 Radical Transparency In Court 35:38 Stay Of Proceedings Explained 36:19 Sale Timelines And Stalking Horse 39:29 Aligning Stakeholders Is Hardest 40:38 Real Estate Receivership Shift 44:22 Advice For Commercial Bankers 48:12 Breaking Into Restructuring 50:42 Skills That Make You Great 54:43 Oak And Fort Case Study 59:31 Learning Resources And Networking 01:02:06 Podcast Wrap And Call To Action 👉 Connect with Murtaza on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/murtaza-tallat/?originalSubdomain=ca Inside Commercial Banking is the #1 training resource for commercial bankers and aspiring students looking to break into the sector and rise to the top. Join us as we interview commercial banking professionals and unlock the secrets of their success and best practices to help you succeed in the business of lending money. The Inside Commercial Banking podcast is hosted by Robert Bezede, a Canadian middle market M&A investment banker focused on selling Canadian companies valued between $3MM to $30MM. He is a partner at Harmony Succession Partners (HSP), a boutique M&A advisory firm based in Toronto, Canada. Robert started his career in commercial banking working with Roynat Capital, a division of Scotiabank. If you have a client that is looking to buy or sell a business in Canada, contact Robert and the Harmony Succession Partners (HSP) team today at: rbezede@harmonysuccession.com https://www.harmonysuccession.com/ 👉 Subscribe for more episodes on finance, private credit, dealmaking, and entrepreneurship

  4. May 26

    Ep. 14 - Inside IP Lending: How Innovation Gets Financed with Lally Rementilla

    In today’s episode, I speak with Lally Rementilla, the founder of IP Investment Partners, a boutique advisory firm focused on helping investors deploy capital into IP-backed debt and equity transactions. Lally has spent over 10+ years in the Canadian IP financing marketplace leading teams at Quantius and BDC Capital. We go deep into how IP-backed deals are structured and priced, along with the key questions Lally focuses on when underwriting these types of transactions. We also explore her career journey—from starting as an operator to transitioning into the commercial banking sector. 00:00 Meet Lally Illa 00:45 Podcast Mission 01:29 What Is IP Finance 03:19 Underwriting The IP 05:00 Deal Structures 06:07 Canada Market Examples 09:01 Pricing And Returns 12:57 Due Diligence Deep Dive 18:01 Learning Curve For Bankers 20:05 Lallys Career Story 22:55 Team Building Lessons 27:55 IP Protection Basics 31:13 Canada Vs US Landscape 32:45 IP Investment Partners 35:46 AI Risks And Tools 37:47 Resources To Learn More 38:54 Favorite Deal 41:58 Closing And Outro 👉 Connect with Lally on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lallyrementilla/ https://ip-investment-partners.com/ Additional Reading Materials on IP Financing: WIPO IP Finance Guide: https://www.wipo.int/publications/en/details.jsp?id=4768&plang=EN Case study on Novarc, Lally's IP deal: https://www.wipo.int/en/web/wipo-magazine/articles/the-future-looks-brighter-for-ip-backed-financing-56344 Inside Commercial Banking is the #1 training resource for commercial bankers and aspiring students looking to break into the sector and rise to the top. Join us as we interview commercial banking professionals and unlock the secrets of their success and best practices to help you succeed in the business of lending money. The Inside Commercial Banking podcast is hosted by Robert Bezede, a Canadian middle market M&A investment banker focused on selling Canadian companies valued between $3MM to $30MM. He is a partner at Harmony Succession Partners (HSP), a boutique M&A advisory firm based in Toronto, Canada. Robert started his career in commercial banking working with Roynat Capital, a division of Scotiabank. If you have a client that is looking to buy or sell a business in Canada, contact Robert and the Harmony Succession Partners (HSP) team today at: rbezede@harmonysuccession.com https://www.harmonysuccession.com/ 👉 Subscribe for more episodes on finance, private credit, dealmaking, and entrepreneurship

  5. May 11

    Ep. 13 - Building A Debt Advisory Practice With Pete Smith and Kumail Hasan

    In today’s episode, I’m joined by Pete Smith and Kumail Hasan, founders and partners at Drive Business Lending Solutions, a debt advisory firm based in Ontario, Canada. Pete and Kumail have over 20 years of commercial lending experience. We talk about their career journey from business banking at TD Bank to starting their own debt advisory business and the lessons learned along the way. 👉 Connect with Pete and Kumail on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-smith-dbls/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kumail-hasan/ https://drivelending.ca/ Inside Commercial Banking is the #1 training resource for commercial bankers and aspiring students looking to break into the sector and rise to the top. Join us as we interview commercial banking professionals and unlock the secrets of their success and best practices to help you succeed in the business of lending money. The Inside Commercial Banking podcast is hosted by Robert Bezede, a Canadian middle market M&A investment banker focused on selling Canadian companies valued between $3MM to $30MM. He is a partner at Harmony Succession Partners (HSP), a boutique M&A advisory firm based in Toronto, Canada. Robert started his career in commercial banking working with Roynat Capital, a division of Scotiabank. If you have a client that is looking to buy or sell a business in Canada, contact Robert and the Harmony Succession Partners (HSP) team today at: rbezede@harmonysuccession.com https://www.harmonysuccession.com/ 👉 Subscribe for more episodes on finance, private credit, dealmaking, and entrepreneurship

  6. Mar 24

    Ep. 12 - How Million-Dollar Rainmakers Think, Sell, and Grow With Norm Trainor

    In this episode, I sit down with Norm Trainor, President of The Covenant Group, one of Canada’s leading sales and leadership training firms for the financial services sector. Norm has coached some of the highest-performing financial advisors and bankers in the country, and in this conversation, he shares proven strategies to build relationships faster, unlock opportunities, and differentiate yourself in a competitive marketplace. This episode is a masterclass in business development — packed with actionable insights that commercial bankers and financial advisors can start using immediately. What we cover: 1) The three conversations in every sales meeting — me to me, me to you, and you to you — and how to connect authentically 2) Why slowing down can actually accelerate your sales success, including Norm’s 15-month planning cycle 3) Key questions to uncover a business owner’s goals and aspirations 4) Real stories from Norm’s multi-million-dollar clients and lessons you can apply to your own business development 👉 Connect with Norm on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/normtrainor/ Inside Commercial Banking is the #1 training resource for commercial bankers and aspiring students looking to break into the sector and rise to the top. Join us as we interview commercial banking professionals and unlock the secrets of their success and best practices to help you succeed in the business of lending money. The Inside Commercial Banking podcast is hosted by Robert Bezede, a Canadian middle market M&A investment banker focused on selling Canadian companies valued between $3MM to $30MM. He is a partner at Harmony Succession Partners (HSP), a boutique M&A advisory firm based in Toronto, Canada. Robert started his career in commercial banking working with Roynat Capital, a division of Scotiabank. If you have a client that is looking to buy or sell a business in Canada, contact Robert and the Harmony Succession Partners (HSP) team today at: rbezede@harmonysuccession.com https://www.harmonysuccession.com/

  7. Jan 26

    Ep 11. - Lessons from 30 Years in Commercial Banking and Leadership With Bill Huk

    In today’s episode, I sit down with Bill Huk, a 30-year veteran in the commercial banking sector. Bill started his career with RBC before joining Roynat Capital, a division of Scotiabank Commercial Banking where he focused on lending to high growth Canadian middle market companies for over 24 years rising to head up the Ontario region for the bank. Bill is a natural leader and expert lender having been involved in billions of dollars of transactions throughout his career. 👉 Connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-huk-448bb39a/?originalSubdomain=ca We cover several key topics in this episode: 1) What are the early mistakes commercial bankers make when trying to build a book of business 2) Why commercial banking is a "human" business and how to collaborate with risk effectively 3) How do you actually assess the quality of management = effective customer calls! 4) Dealing with the early warning signs of an underperforming company and what to do 5) How to lead a team and be an effective leader in commercial banking Inside Commercial Banking is the #1 training resource for commercial bankers and aspiring students looking to break into the sector and rise to the top. Join us as we interview commercial banking professionals and unlock the secrets of their success and best practices to help you succeed in the business of lending money. The Inside Commercial Banking podcast is hosted by Robert Bezede, a Canadian middle market M&A investment banker focused on selling Canadian companies valued between $3MM to $30MM. He is a partner at Harmony Succession Partners (HSP), a boutique M&A advisory firm based in Toronto, Canada. Robert started his career in commercial banking working with Roynat Capital, a division of Scotiabank. If you have a client that is looking to buy or sell a business in Canada, contact Robert and the Harmony Succession Partners (HSP) team today at: rbezede@harmonysuccession.com https://www.harmonysuccession.com/ 👉 Subscribe for more episodes on finance, private credit, dealmaking, and entrepreneurship

  8. 2025-12-09

    Ep. 10 - Cold Calling, Door Knocking & Winning Deals in Commercial Banking with Dylan Kostka

    In today’s episode, I sit down with Dylan Kostka, Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities in Ottawa, to break down the fundamentals of business development, prospecting, cold calling, and door knocking in commercial banking. Dylan works closely with commercial bankers and shares practical strategies on how a strong wealth partner can help uncover lending opportunities, deepen client relationships, and drive real value in the middle-market space. 👉 Connect with Dylan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dkostka4/ We cover several key topics in this episode: 1) What a day in the life of a wealth advisor actually looks like 2) How commercial bankers and wealth advisors can uncover new business together 3) Managing imposter syndrome as a young banker 4) Cold calling & in-person door knocking — what really works and how to do it 5) How to add value to business owners beyond the financing you offer 6) The most common mistakes young bankers make Inside Commercial Banking is the #1 training resource for commercial bankers and aspiring students looking to break into the sector and rise to the top. Join us as we interview commercial banking professionals and unlock the secrets of their success and best practices to help you succeed in the business of lending money. The Inside Commercial Banking podcast is hosted by Robert Bezede, a Canadian middle market M&A investment banker focused on selling Canadian companies valued between $3MM to $30MM. He is a partner at Harmony Succession Partners (HSP), a boutique M&A advisory firm based in Toronto, Canada. Robert started his career in commercial banking working with Roynat Capital, a division of Scotiabank. If you have a client that is looking to buy or sell a business in Canada, contact Robert and the Harmony Succession Partners (HSP) team today at: rbezede@harmonysuccession.com https://www.harmonysuccession.com/ 👉 Subscribe for more episodes on finance, private credit, dealmaking, and entrepreneurship

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A podcast made for commercial bankers, corporate bankers and middle market professionals interested in the business of lending money. We interview successful rainmakers and dealmakers in the commercial banking sector to uncover best practices to help you achieve career success.

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