Chief Lending Officer

Key Responsibilities:

• Business Development:
  • Identify new lending opportunities and execute strategies to grow the bank’s loan portfolio.
  • Build and maintain relationships with key clients, ensuring the delivery of high-quality customer service.
  • Oversee the marketing and promotion of loan products to enhance the bank’s market presence.
• Strategic Leadership:
  • Develop and execute lending strategies to meet the bank’s growth and profitability objectives.
  • Lead the development of lending policies and procedures to ensure regulatory compliance and sound risk management.
  • Collaborate with senior leadership to align lending activities with the bank’s broader strategic goals.
• Portfolio Management:
  • Oversee and manage the bank’s loan portfolio, including commercial, residential, consumer, and agricultural loans, ensuring portfolio diversification and compliance.
  • Report loan production and portfolio performance to the Board of Directors, providing regular updates on loan growth, quality, and risk.
  • Monitor and evaluate the performance of the loan portfolio, developing strategies to optimize profitability while minimizing risks.
• Audit & Regulatory Compliance:
  • Lead and manage internal and external audits and regulatory examinations, ensuring successful outcomes.
  • Collaborate with the compliance and risk management teams to ensure lending activities meet all regulatory requirements.
  • Develop action plans to address any audit or examination findings and implement corrective measures as needed.
  • Provide detailed reports on loan production, portfolio management, and lending performance to the CEO, board of directors, and regulatory agencies.
  • Ensure compliance with all lending-related federal, state, and local regulations, including fair lending laws, CRA, and consumer protection regulations.
• Team Leadership & Development:
  • Lead, mentor, and develop the lending team, promoting a culture of high performance and professional growth.
  • Set clear goals and expectations for team members, holding them accountable for results.
  • Ensure that the lending team adheres to the bank’s risk management practices and regulatory requirements.
• Credit Risk & Underwriting Oversight:
  • Lead Loan Committee. Collaborate with the credit risk team to review and approve loan applications, ensuring adherence to underwriting standards.
  • Provide oversight of problem loans and work with the team to implement strategies for resolution.
  • Ensure that risk management practices are integrated into all aspects of the lending process.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, business administration, or a related field. MBA or equivalent preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in banking, preferably with at least 5 years in a senior lending or credit role.
• Proven track record of managing diverse loan portfolios and driving growth in commercial, consumer, and real estate lending.
• Strong understanding of lending regulations, risk management practices, and audit/examination processes.
• Demonstrated leadership skills, with experience managing and developing high-performance teams.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly to the board of directors and regulators.

Key Competencies:

• Strategic Thinking
• Financial Acumen
• Leadership & Team Building
• Risk Management
• Business Development
• Audit & Regulatory Compliance
• Problem Solving