Rich Watson was named Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager of the Restaurant Group at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. He works with restaurant operating companies, franchisees and franchisors to deliver the full resources of the bank, including treasury, credit, investment banking, risk management, international, wealth management and advisory services and solutions.

The team helps restaurant businesses of all sizes expand, remodel, upgrade equipment, improve payments or operations, or enhance hiring and retention efforts.

Watson has provided both full syndications and bi-lateral solutions for his clients, with previous roles in relationship management and credit structuring at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, over the last eight years. Watson is a licensed banker with both Series 7 and 63 qualifications. Rich holds bachelor’s degrees in accounting and finance from the University of Kentucky in Lexington, and a Master of Business Administration, with an accounting focus, from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

“Given all of the changes and opportunities in the industry, it’s an exciting time to rejoin the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Restaurant Group,” says Watson. “I look forward to working with restaurant owners and operators around the country, and providing them with the full resources of the bank to help them achieve their business goals.”