Chief Lending Officer

The Chief Lending Officer is responsible for overseeing the entire lending operation for the bank. It plays a critical leadership role in setting the strategy, managing the lending portfolio, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, driving growth and profitability within the lending business. Works closely with other senior management to align lending activities with the bank's overall goals and risk management framework.

Principal Responsibilities and Duties

• Establishes departmental culture, goals, strategies, policies, and procedures that are consistent with overall bank policies, operating objectives, and regulatory requirements.
• Develops and implements the bank's lending strategy and sets performance targets for the lending team to achieve the strategy.
• Works with the ALCO committee to develop and maintain an interest rate structure that harmonizes with overall bank management policies, is competitive, and affords the bank maximum profitability.
• Supervises, directs, and guides the activities of loan officers making commercial, agricultural, real estate and consumer loans.
• Provides leadership, guidance, and mentorship to loan officers including training, coaching and regular performance feedback.
• Collaborates with other internal departments, such as the credit department, loan administration, risk management, IT and compliance to ensure accurate and efficient loan processing, closing and servicing.
• Assists lending officers with loan requests to the board of directors' executive loan committee, according to loan authority policies. Reviews for the committee major loans approved at the departmental level.
• Ensures that proper approval is obtained, according to loan policy, for loans exceeding lender authority. This includes SLO and SCO approval, Management Loan Committee approval, and Executive Loan Committee approval as applicable.
• Provides appropriate approval or denial of loan requests over Lending Officer authority, as outlined in the Loan Policy.
• Vetoes or advises changes to credit proposals as needed.
• Serves as a member of the Management Loan Committee (MLC), providing oversight and authority for loans in accordance with the Loan Policy and procedures.
• Directs the department's business development activities, leading the team to achieve individual and departmental sales and service goals.
• Works with Human Resources to perform the department's personnel activities, including job assignment, loan officer counseling and training, performance appraisal, and compensation structure.
• Works with Marketing to develop, implement, and manage lending service strategies and related marketing plans to ensure the achievement of growth and profitability goals.
• Keeps abreast of local and national economic, financial, political and legislative events and climates which could have an impact on all lending activities.
• Provides detailed information for preparing the department budget including projected loan volume, rate of return, and expenditures. Prepares and reviews reports to compare actual with planned budgetary performance.
• Ensures the availability of adequate services and materials to support staff activity.
• Maintains professional and community relations to increase the bank's visibility and new business opportunities.
• Analyzes, creates, monitors, and maintains bank loan assets.
• Works with Senior Credit Officer to guide repayment and collection activity on bank loan assets.
• Conducts debtor meetings, produces recommendations, and follows through as servicing officer on assigned non-accrual loans.
• Participates in unified collection activity on previously charged off loans.
• Maintains a liaison with local Farm Service Agency (FSA) staff, USDA Rural Development, and with Small Business Administration (SBA) for purchase and administration of guaranteed loans.
• Engages or enrolls in a sufficient number of educational schools, seminars, or workshops to maintain adequate competency level in agricultural and commercial lending.
• Participates on or leads committees as requested.
• Complies with regulations, policies, and procedures related to position, including but not limited to BSA/AML.
• Maintains confidentiality of bank and customer information.
• Accepts other responsibilities as assigned.

Skills and Abilities

Management skills are required to successfully perform the planning, directing, reporting and administrative responsibilities of this position. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills must be exhibited to positively represent the bank and motivate personnel. In-depth knowledge of lending products, credit risk management, and regulatory requirements. Working knowledge of Windows, Microsoft Word and Excel required.

Required Education and Experience
Bachelor of Science in Agronomy, Business, Finance, Accounting or other related field strongly preferred. Must have at least 10 years lending experience with proven ability in managing lending operations, expertise in commercial, consumer, and real estate loans, and experience managing workout plans.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; see, talk, and hear. The employee is also occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch; lift and/or move products and supplies up to 20 pounds.

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office environment. The role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, scanners, filing cabinets, and fax machines. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Characteristics and duties described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

FNB is an equal opportunity employer