Underwriter

JOB TITLE:                      Underwriter  

REPORTS TO:                 Enterprise Lending Manager

SUPERVISES:                  None

EXEMPTION STATUS:     Non-Exempt

PRIMARY FUNCTION: Responsible for evaluating consumer loan applications to determine creditworthiness and ensure compliance with credit union policies and regulatory guidelines. This role ensures sound lending decisions that balance member needs, credit union growth, and risk mitigation while maintaining a high level of service and efficiency.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Review and evaluate consumer loan applications, including auto, personal, credit card, and home equity loans, to determine creditworthiness.
2. Analyze financial data, credit reports, income verification documents, and other relevant factors to assess risk.
3. Make sound lending decisions within assigned approval authority and provide recommendations on loans requiring higher-level review.
4. Communicate loan decisions to Member Advocates, branch staff, and members while providing clear explanations for approvals, counteroffers, or denials.
5. Ensure that loan requests meet all current policy requirements and obtain higher level approval for any exceptions.
6. Identify potential fraud risks and escalate concerns to the Risk Management department as necessary.
7. Contribute to process improvements and recommend enhancements to underwriting guidelines and workflows.
8. Ensure loans comply with credit union policies, state/federal regulations, and underwriting best practices.
9. Attend training sessions and complete compliance training on an annual basis. Maintain member and TFCU privacy and confidentiality.

OTHER DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Coach and educate frontline staff (Member Advocates and Branch Staff) on underwriting guidelines, best practices, and improving loan application quality as opportunities arise.
2. Ensure all third-party fees for Home Equity loans are submitted for payment.
3. Engage in behavior that aligns with the credit union’s cultural beliefs.
4. Gain and retain a high-level knowledge of all TFCU products, policies and procedures.
5. Adhere to TFCU’s attendance and punctuality policy.
6. Maintain a professional businesslike appearance in accordance with TFCU’s dress code policy.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILIITIES:

1. Ability to exercise independent judgment and initiative in dealing with members.
2. Strong understanding of lending regulations (e.g., Reg Z, Fair Lending, FCRA).
3. Proficiency in credit analysis and risk assessment.
4. Strong negotiation, communication and interpersonal skills for working with team members, members and dealerships.
5. Excellent attention to detail and decision-making skills.
6. Ability to multitask and prioritize in a fast-paced environment
7. Strong analytical skills, conflict resolution skills and problem-solving skills.
8. Knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite products, specifically Outlook, Word, Excel and Power Point.
9. Basic writing and math skills (adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing).
10. Ability to speak using proper grammar to effectively communicate and convey business principles to members.

Education:  High school diploma or its equivalent required.

Experience: Three (3) years of financial experience preferred.

Availability: Monday through Saturday, as scheduled.

Physical Demands: The Physical Demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the person in this position to successfully perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

1. Sit, Stand, Walk and Bend: While performing the duties of this job, this position is regularly required to sit, stand, and walk.
2. Use of Hands/Fingers: To operate a computer, keyboard, mouse and other office machinery such as but not limited to; a calculator, copy machine, and printer. Additionally, this position is frequently required to sit and reach with hands and arms.
3. Speech/Hearing: This position frequently communicates via phone and in person.
4. Lifting: The ability to occasionally lift up to 15 lbs. is required for this position.

Job descriptions are not intended and should not be construed to be exhaustive lists of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, and working conditions associated with a job.  They are intended to be accurate reflections of those principal job elements essential for making fair pay decisions about the value of the job.  This job description does not create or constitute the terms of a contract of employment, commitment, or guarantee of employment; TFCU is an "employment at will employer."