Collection Officer

Collection Officer

If you like to work with people in a family atmosphere, enjoy great benefits and provide unequaled personal service to every customer, consider a career with Bell Bank.

Company Information:

Bell Bank was founded in 1966 and headquartered in Fargo, North Dakota. It is the largest family-and employee-owned bank in the upper Midwest, and one of the largest in the nation, with assets of more than $10 billion. Bell Bank has full-service banking locations in North Dakota, Minnesota and Arizona. Bell has empowered more than $26 million in charitable giving through its unique Pay It Forward initiative, through which every employee chooses each year how to help individuals, families and organizations in need.

Bell Bank has been recognized as a top workplace by American Banker, Forbes and Fortune.

If you want to work for an established, growing, forward-looking organization with world-class employees, this is the place for you. Let Bell Bank be your destination workplace.

Bell's Values:

As stewards, dedicated to the growth and reputation of this independently owned organization, we are committed to:

• Promoting and sustaining our family atmosphere.
• Providing unequaled personal service to each and every customer.
• “Paying it forward” by giving back to the communities we serve.

Our Bottom Line:

Happy Employees! Happy Customers!

Job Summary:

This position maintains the Bank's overdrawn deposit accounts to an acceptable level. In addition, this position assists other individuals in the collection department to help maintain the Bank's delinquent accounts to an acceptable level. This position ensures that all repossessions, foreclosures, and collections are handled in a fair, considerate, and professional manner and that Bell Bank is in compliance with all laws and regulations. This position is part of the Collection Team and works closely with other Departments.

Primary Duties:

• Administer the Bank's overdraft policy. Monitor all overdrawn checking accounts and work with the appropriate officer to collect or charge off accounts as needed.
• Send charged-off deposit accounts to Chex Systems and ensure the accuracy of the data reported. Serve as the primary contact with Chex Systems on any maintenance or changes that need to be made to accounts submitted.
• Respond and track any incoming ChexSystems disputes that align with the responsibility of the department.
• Submit all charged-off deposit accounts for collection when we have exhausted all of our collection efforts and ensure the accuracy of the data. Serve as the primary contact with the collection agencies that are approved partnerships of Bell Bank.
• Respond and track incoming disputes initially received by 3rd party collection agencies.
• Process monthly recovery statements from 3rd party collection agencies.
• Maintain Bell Bank's collection systems on every customer that has been charged off and turned over to a collection agency that documents when it was sent, the amount owed, the amount owed that is “hard costs,” the amount owed that is “soft costs” or fees, and any recoveries and the date collected.

Other Duties:

• Assist other members of the Collection Department with the following duties:
• Communicate with delinquent borrowers, attempting to obtain late payments, using various means of contact such as telephone, letters, and personal visits. Assist in the collection of consumer purpose loans and/or residential real estate loans. Report the status and any workout arrangement on the delinquent accounts in the Collection Software.
• Utilize methods of collection under terms of the loan contract depending on the feasibility and applicability of each case if initial collection attempts do not secure required payment. This may entail extending due dates or refinancing of delinquent loans with input from the officer and their manager. This also may involve repossessing the collateral on secured items if the delinquent situation requires such action.
• Properly document all collection calls, promises by the customer, any action taken, etc. Documentation must be in compliance with requirements of rules and regulations for specific portfolios (such as repossessions, or foreclosures.
• Assist with repossessions on assigned accounts to ensure they are handled in a satisfactory manner. Document all notices sent to the customer, inspections of the repossessed property, sale of the repossessed property, and follow up on any deficiency balance. Work in conjunction with the officer on the loan.
• Assist the Legal Process team in the administration of consumer bankruptcy. Work with the officer as well as the bankruptcy trustee on any reaffirmation agreements, workout agreements, surrendering of the collateral, etc.
• Work with the Special Assets Manager, SVP/Loan Administration and the Bank's legal counsel on any loans where foreclosure proceedings may be initiated. Ensure Bell Bank is in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations as well as accounting guidelines.
• Assist Commercial/Ag Loan Officers on the collection of commercial/agricultural loans on an as needed basis. This may include attending meetings with the customer and legal counsel to determine an appropriate workout plan.
• Assist the Special Asset Manager in the preparation of the Problem Loan Agendas for the departments/locations that are assigned to you.
• Ability to work flexible hours as this position may require some after-hours work and some weekends.
• Know by name and face as many customers and employees as possible, calling them by name as often as possible.
• Know and practice LOCBUTN, our Golden Rules, and Bell Bank Customer Service Standards.
• Know, understand, and live the company values and bottom line.
• Conduct activities consistent with established Bell Bank policies, procedures and systems, the Bell Bank Employee Conduct policies, the Bank Secrecy Act and all applicable state and federal laws and regulations.
• All employees are responsible for information security, including compliance with policies and standards which protect sensitive information.
• Prompt and reliable attendance.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Job Skills Required:

• B.A. in accounting, finance, or related field.
• One to three years of collection experience.
• Working knowledge of loan documentation.
• Proficiency with computer technology.
• Ability to be a self-starter and work without direct supervision as this position may include nights and weekends.
• Effective time management and organizational skills.

Bell Bank provides competitive compensation and an excellent benefits package.

Bell Bank

Equal Opportunity Employer