Commercial Lender

About the role

Responsible for originating, underwriting, and closing Commercial Loans and managing a loan portfolio in accordance with Bank policies and regulatory lending guidelines. You will develop, maintain, and service loan customers, cross-sell bank products, and expand both existing and new relationships. Additionally, you will provide community involvement to support professional growth and uphold the Bank’s image as a Community Bank.

Responsibilities

• Call on existing customers to retain and expand relationships
• Develop new customers and prospects to achieve individual goals
• Interview prospective customers to understand their loan request and business
• Provide financial consultation and analysis to assist customers in determining their borrowing capacity
• Gather financial statements, analyze the loan request, and physically inspect collateral
• Structure and price the loan within the Bank’s underwriting and pricing guidelines
• Underwrite loan files through evaluation of appraisals, title insurance, credit reports, and other loan-specific criteria
• Respond promptly to underwriting questions or additional documentation to minimize turnaround time from loan request to closing
• Review and familiarize yourself with policy and procedure changes to ensure compliance
• Review loan presentations for accuracy and compliance with Loan Policies and pricing guidelines prior to submitting for approval
• Approve loans within your lending limits
• Make recommendations for loan approvals under bank policy and pricing guidelines
• Review loan documents thoroughly prior to borrower signing to ensure accuracy and completeness
• Actively participate in Officer Loan Committee with questions, suggestions, and prompt voting
• Maintain past dues at an acceptable level by actively collecting on past-due loans
• Ensure accurate timing of loan renewals with review of risk, rates, and fees
• Collect updated financial information for existing customers in a timely manner
• Collect on expired insurance
• Participate in social, service, and community organizations
• Expand banking relationships from Transactional to Primary by promoting and explaining other bank products and joint calling efforts with other lines of business
• Leverage Centers of Influence and existing relationships to expand prospect calling activity
• Enter sales calls and referrals in Salesforce promptly so all calls for the month are entered by month end
• Remain current with all compliance testing by completing assignments on or prior to the due date
• Other duties as assigned

Relationships and contacts

High degree of interaction with the Chief Business Banking Officer, Business Banking Team Leader, Business Bankers, Business Banking Assistants, customers, prospects, third parties, loan administration, Credit, and banking centers as it relates to commercial products. Maintain confidentiality of all bank records.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a business-related field
• Annual commercial loan originations consistently at or above the minimum for your level
• Ability to work on multiple projects in a fast-paced environment without compromising quality
• Ability to work within established standards and guidelines
• Strong communication skills with the Chief Business Banking Officer, Business Banking Team Leader, Business Bankers, bank personnel, customers, prospects, and third parties
• Ability to work with financial information, analyze data, and use prudent judgment when making decisions
• Knowledge of bank software: Word, Excel, Microsoft Office, nCino, Salesforce, and pricing software
• Minimum of 3 to 5 years in banking, Credit, or Lending experience preferred
• Ability to extract and analyze data to identify and resolve exceptions
• Goal-oriented and proactive individual focused on results set forth by the bank’s strategic plan

About us

For over a century, Peoples Bank has served as a cornerstone of customer commitment, helping our communities thrive and continuously supporting our community members. Proudly bearing the Finward name as a Finward Company, our logo symbolizes our unwavering dedication to financial excellence, advanced technology, and elevating the customer journey.

Headquartered in Munster, Indiana, Peoples Bank offers an extensive array of consumer, business, and wealth management solutions, alongside cutting-edge digital banking services. With conveniently located Peoples Banking Centers spread across Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland, we uphold a tradition of delivering top-notch performance to our valued residents.

At Peoples Bank, we are driven by a passion for fostering success within our customer base and communities. Anchored in our core values of Stability, Integrity, Community, and Excellence, we are committed to building strong partnerships with our customers and communities to help them achieve financial success. Through innovative engagement and technology, we ensure an exceptional customer experience at every turn.