Senior Credit Officer

Merchants Bank is seeking a Senior Vice President / Senior Lending Officer.  This on-site position can work from any of our Merchants Bank locations in MN and WI.

This position will have responsibility for the overall management of the loan portfolios to include loan approval processes, loan documentation, and credit administration activities. This individual will exercise appropriate credit risk management and ensure all lending and credit administration activities are compliant and within defined Chief Credit Officer/Bank Board-approved risk tolerance expectations. Will be an active participant in the establishment of the annual business planning and budgeting and its implementation with the other members of the Credit Management Team with the responsibility to manage the credit function in a manner consistent with the Bank’s community banking vision, mission, culture and lending philosophy.

Requires 10 years of progressively responsible supervisory/management experience in a financial institution, including 10 years in business and/or agricultural lending, and leasing. 

Merchants Bank offers competitive wages and benefits for our full-time employees including health, dental, life, disability and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts, 401(k) and ESOP retirement plans; bonus plan; paid time off; tuition reimbursement; and a variety of voluntary supplemental insurance options.

Please click on Apply Now or apply in person at any Merchants Bank location. Questions can be emailed to hr@merchantsbank.com. Merchants Bank is an Equal Opportunity Employer of women, minorities, protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Directly accountable for performance to the Chief Credit Officer who will invite input/feedback from the Regional Presidents on disciplines in meeting the credit support expectations of frontline staff.
• Will have oversight of problem asset management for the assigned loan portfolios.
• Principally responsible for overall asset quality of loan portfolios as a fundamental driver of the safety and soundness of the institution.
• Partner with the Chief Credit Officer in providing input in establishing credit risk philosophy and appropriate credit risk monitoring & mitigation systems for a growing community banking organization.
• Implementation of approved lending policies, underwriting standards, and internal lending controls in alignment with evolving industry practices. Oversee all lending activity to ensure policies and regulatory compliance standards are adhered to and assist in maintaining the Bank’s reputable standing with all regulatory agencies.
• Implement and monitor the Bank’s loan risk rating systems and loan concentration levels within the assigned portfolio.
• Monitor the Bank’s ALLLR for accuracy levels within the assigned branches.
• Partner with the Chief Credit Officer in developing, maintaining, and monitoring the Bank’s credit authority and loan committee approval structure in alignment with appropriate risk management and credit decisioning responsiveness.
• Monitor new developments in lending and changing government regulations, communicating with Chief Credit Officer and other Senior Credit Officers so that Bank’s policies are modified accordingly.
• Analyze economic, market, and industry trends regarding new products, services, and policies, and recommend an appropriate Bank response.
• Partner with Chief Credit Officer in driving consistent performance and credit culture expectations within Bank’s defined regional/market structure; maintains active dialogue and engagement with Regional President & Lenders.
• Facilitates and/or participates in regular meetings with Regional President, Lenders and Lending Support Staff to make sure credit administration and policy expectations are adhered to and evolve as appropriate with the ongoing growth of the Company.
• Expected to lead by example in alignment with the Bank’s Servant Leadership philosophy.
• Provide input to Chief Credit Officer on Credit Administration, Loan Servicing, & Collections Managers.
• Serves as an Ex-Officio (non-voting) member of the Region’s Local Advisory Boards.
• Serves as a voting member of the Bank’s Asset-Liability Management Committee (ALCO); contributes to development of and adherence to appropriate loan pricing disciplines within construct of prudent ALCO guidelines.
• Contributes to the Bank’s community leadership reputation by being actively engaged in strategic community involvement activities and serving as one of the Bank’s leading ambassadors.
• Employee will be expected to contribute to a positive working environment through words and actions.
• Employee will be expected to greet internal and external customers in a friendly and outgoing manner.
• Employee will be expected to take responsibility to ensure that internal and external customers receive outstanding service.
• Employee will represent adherence to compliance with laws concerning financial institutions.
• Regular and dependable attendance is an essential function of the job.
• Employee may be asked to perform other duties as required by business needs.
• Employee will be expected to complete compliance and product knowledge assignments in a timely manner.

Required knowledge, skills and abilities

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of the financial industry including knowledge of the various products, policies, and procedures
• Knowledge of all phases of lending, including the laws and regulations governing business (including SBA), agricultural (including FSA and Farmer Mac) and consumer lending
• Knowledge of business and agricultural financial analysis
• Knowledge of state and federal laws applying to Banks and other financial organizations
• Knowledge of collections/work-out practices
• An understanding of basic data processing concepts

Skills:

• Computer keyboarding and ten key skills
• Skill with Microsoft Office software applications
• Budgeting skills
• Communication and relationship building skills
• Strong writing and oral presentation skills, including the ability to prepare and deliver clear oral and written reports summarizing complex financial, operational and regulatory information
• Effective use of Service Plus Skills

Abilities:

• Strong leadership abilities
• Ability to motivate employees and delegate authority
• Public relations abilities, including the ability to positively reflect the Bank’s image in the community and the marketplace
• Ability to systematically gather, review and interpret data from reports and personnel in order to solve problems and make effective decisions
• Ability to analyze information and use to make sound loan decisions
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret complex laws, contracts and documents
• Ability to respond effectively to sensitive inquiries and/or complaints

Secondary Activities and Responsibilities:

• Support in developing enhanced credit training for all lenders.
• Participates with lenders on customer and prospect calls, when appropriate.
• Monitors document exception management.
• Participates in the Bank’s business development program on a selective basis.
• Willingly participates in all assigned duties and responsibilities.

Specific Performance Objectives:

The following specific performance objectives are expected for the Senior Lending Officer:

• Chairs Regional Officer Loan Committee and Bank’s Senior Loan Committee on a rotating basis.
• Accountable for making sure credit quality metrics for the assigned loan portfolio are managed in alignment with key industry metrics as a fundamental contributor to the Bank’s financial performance expectations.

Job Qualifications and Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree in business, or equivalent.
• 10 years progressively responsible supervisory/management experience in a financial institution, including 10 years in business and/or agricultural lending, and leasing. 
• Additional executive banking/financial education desired but not required.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements:

Standing, sitting, or walking for eight hours a day or more.  Fine dexterity required to utilize computer keyboards.  Visual skills required for computer monitors and related business equipment.  May need to do occasional lifting (up to 50 pounds) in preparation for and during community events.  Some travel required to visit branch offices and attend industry functions.