Commercial Relationship Manager Bellingham

Who We Are

First Fed is a local community bank on an exciting growth trajectory with 18 locations including 12 full-service branches in Western Washington. First Fed was recognized by the Puget Sound Business Journal as a Best Workplace for the last 3 years and a Top Corporate Philanthropist in 2023. By popular vote, First Fed received 2023 awards for Best Bank in The Best of the Northwest, Best Banker in Readers’ Choice by Cascadia Daily News, and Peninsula Daily News named us Best Bank on the Olympic Peninsula. We also received a Best-In-State bank award from Forbes in 2021.  

 For over 100 years First Fed has served our customers and communities throughout the PNW. We’ve donated over $9 million to non-profit organizations in the past 8 years through our foundations, sponsorships, direct donations, and matched employee donations. Our amazing team has volunteered over 25,000 hours in the past 5 years – many by using our benefit of 3 paid volunteer days per year!  

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds – our diversity makes us stronger. Join our award-winning team!  

Our Values

Optimism:  We are positive and decisive. We believe the future will be better than the past. Our attitude demonstrates persistence which leads to success.

Initiative:  We are self-starters and find innovative solutions. We are courageous, entrepreneurial, and passionate. We take action for good.

Respect:  We include individuals from diverse backgrounds and with different perspectives. We are committed to honoring and serving others.

Growth:  We learn and adapt so we can continually improve. We believe in personal growth through grit and determination.

Ownership:  We are invested in our endeavors. We are accountable and take responsibility for our actions and decisions.

Position purpose:

Acquire, develop, and retain commercial banking relationships, in conformance with board approved policies and procedures, to achieve established production and growth goals per the bank’s strategic and financial plan.

Essential Functions:

• Produce quality commercial loan originations in support of annual production and portfolio growth goals.
• Acquire commercial and personal deposit accounts/balances, with emphasis on non-interest bearing operating accounts, in support of annual production and portfolio growth goals.
• Achieve non-interest revenue goals via standard loan fees and other fees generated by SBA and swap products.
• Be fluent in all bank products and services relevant to business and servicing needs and acquire a depth of knowledge in relative industry characteristics to maximize relationship value for customers.
• Negotiate structure and pricing terms in compliance with organizational policy and regulatory guidelines while attaining profitability and loan quality standards.
• Lead the loan origination process for all individual production, ensuring timely and accurate delivery of fully informed loan closings to exceed customer expectations.
• Establish collaboration and referral network with Treasury Management Officers, Branch Managers, and Mortgage Lenders, cross-selling and referring on a needs basis all products and services to these internal partners.
• Build external COIs with community leaders and business groups from which to build a referral network for new business relationships.
• Meet business calling and sales goals as set by Senior Management and the Chief Banking Officer.
• Participate in institution-wide sales and service efforts designed to retain existing relationships and grow new relationships while meeting loan, deposit, and fee income goals.
• Manage and retain a commercial loan portfolio through monitoring the quality and migration of credits, responding appropriately to opportunities and changes in risk in the portfolio.
• Perform all duties in compliance with policies and procedures of First Fed, and all applicable regulations of local, state, or federal regulators.
• Maintain sound knowledge of Bank policies, procedures, documentation, pricing, and compliance needs to effectively exercise assigned responsibilities.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as required and other duties as assigned.

Requirements/Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business with focus on Marketing, Finance or Accounting or the equivalent preferred.
• Strong relationship management and sales skills with demonstrated ability to solicit, develop and retain mid-sized to larger commercial banking business relationships.
• Knowledge of commercial and real estate lending regulations, title insurance, loan documentation, credit/financial analysis techniques, disbursement procedures, and underwriting functions.
• Thorough knowledge of loan structuring and documentation across various business segments.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, organizational, and customer service skills.
• Demonstrated ability to perform effectively in a fast-paced, detail-driven environment, to meet or exceed customer expectations.
• Develop and maintain a working knowledge of bank policies, procedures, and systems.
• Proficiency with PC applications including MS Office Suite and Salesforce.
• Ability to travel frequently to meet with clients and team.

Position Levels: 

• CRM I: Introductory lending position with heavy emphasis on portfolio management, with modest production goals. Typically requires two or more years of experience as a commercial credit analyst or strong experience in consumer lending, with significant exposure to commercial transactions, including the ability to proactively manage an assigned portfolio and maintain client relationships.

• CRM II: Typically requires a minimum of three years of experience as a commercial lender with an established history of successful relationship and new business development. Must be able to consistently bring in new business and meet production and portfolio growth goals. Participates in some community engagement. A CRM II must be proficient in loan structuring, financial & credit analysis, regulatory compliance, and loan documentation. 

• CRM III: Typically requires a minimum of five years of experience as a commercial lender with a strong history of successful relationship and new business development across a wide range of industry segments. Active participation in community engagement. A CRM III will have a larger, consistently growing portfolio and regularly meet or exceed loan production and growth goals. This level operates with an increased level of autonomy and possesses high level financial acumen including intermediate to advanced knowledge of credit and regulatory standards, loan structuring, financial analysis, and loan documentation.

• CRM IV: Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of experience as a commercial lender with an advanced history of successful relationship and new business development across a wide range of industry segments, often including an area of specialized expertise. High-level participation in community engagement, including bank representation at events. A CRM IV will have an expansive, markedly growing portfolio and regularly meet and often exceed production and growth goals. This level operates autonomously and is a resource for other CRMs.  A CRM IV possesses peak level financial acumen including advanced knowledge of credit and regulatory standards, loan structuring, financial analysis, and loan documentation. 

Pay Grade

The pay range for this position depends on the level the candidate is hired at :

Level I

• The pay range for a Commercial Relationship Manager I is $87,151.75 - $148,157.98
  
• The typical hiring range for a level I  is $87,151.75 - $100,006.63

Level II

• The pay range for a Commercial Relationship Manager II is $95,866.93 - $162,973.77
  
• The typical hiring range for a level II  is $95,866.93 - $110,007.30

Level III:

• The pay range for a Commercial Relationship Manager III is $105,453.62 - $179,271.15
  
• The typical hiring range for a level III  is $105,453.62 - $121,008.03
  

Level IV:

• The pay range for a Commercial Relationship Manager IV is $115,998.98 - $197,198.27
  
• The typical hiring range for a level IV is $115,998.98 - $133,108.83

• The incentive plan for this position is the Commercial Relationship Manager Incentive Plan. This incentive plan has a quarterly payout and is based on the Relationship Manager’s production, deposit growth, and overall performance.
• A signing bonus, fully paid tuition for banking-related programs, and/or restricted shares of stock may be provided as elements of the total compensation package for this position.

• Employees will be eligible for our benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, paid time off, retirement plans (401k with company match and Employee Stock Ownership Plan), gym membership reimbursement, discounts on our banking products, and more!  Additional information on our benefits package can be viewed at https://www.ourfirstfed.com/careers 

Physical Requirements: 

The work requires the ability to operate office machines and equipment, such as personal computers, printers, copying machines and telephones. The work requires the ability to communicate clearly with customers, coworkers, and others in person and on telephones. Work activities involve combinations of sitting/standing for extended periods.

Salary : $87,152 - $148,158