Commercial Underwriter II

About the Role

Underwriters support the revenue growth and asset quality of the commercial lending line of business by participating in new client relationship development activities, functioning as part of the lending partnership, monitoring existing client relationships, and managing credit risk to ensure that loans are quality assets and well-structured to mitigate portfolio risk. Underwriters will utilize strong analytical skills, a high-level understanding of business finance, and extensive knowledge to propose and provide solutions to meet customer needs while promoting and supporting the loan policies, credit culture, and strategic initiatives of the bank.

Responsibilities

• Analyze financial information on existing and potential customers to assess the borrower’s and guarantor’s financial condition and ability to repay a loan request, perform periodic or annual reviews, covenant tests, or loan modifications.
• Investigate all available sources of credit and financial information, including reporting services, credit bureaus, and trade references.
• Understand the market(s) and industry in which the customer operates and assess the collateral pledged as security.
• Meet with and/or call borrowers and accountants to gather necessary information.
• Prepare and present financial information, industry data, economic influences, and other market information in the required format, analyzing trends, ratios, cash flow, and other key metrics.
• Prepare analytical credit memoranda that are accurate and insightful, identifying and examining all risks, analyzing sources of repayment, citing policy exceptions, and evaluating collateral.
• Maintain a thorough understanding of the credit culture and loan policy to inform, articulate, and advise on risk appetite, policy adherence, and exceptions.
• Handle all loan types, including complex borrowers, with minimal direction, and negotiate structures with Commercial Bankers on underwriting assignments.
• Ensure loan agreements are complete and accurate according to loan approval and support timely loan closing and funding activities.
• Manage the loan portfolio to ensure conformity and servicing with approved terms and compliance with all loan documents.
• Proactively identify weaknesses in loans to minimize the bank’s exposure, reduce credit risk, and mitigate delinquency and loss. This includes monitoring changes in the risk profile of loans, borrowers’ compliance with loan documents, obtaining and reviewing required documentation, tracking covenant compliance, and performing periodic borrower reviews.
• Utilize designated authorities judiciously and assist the Special Assets Department in managing problem loans, supervising Watch Loan plan execution, administering non-accruals, and minimizing charge-offs.
• Remain current on market and industry issues, trends, regulatory pronouncements, and analytical techniques.
• Exercise time management and organizational skills, and assist other Underwriters to cover overflow.
• Adhere to the bank’s Code of Conduct and ensure familiarity and compliance with all regulatory, legal, ethical, and risk mitigation requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree (BS or BA) or higher from a four-year accredited institution, with a major in finance, accounting, or business preferred.
• Minimum of seven years of relevant experience in commercial credit analysis, commercial lending, loan structuring, finance, underwriting, and portfolio management or equivalent.
• Competence may be demonstrated through work experience, training, military experience, and/or education.
• Formal commercial credit training preferred.
• Ability to develop and sustain analytic and risk management skills while actively participating in the successful execution of complex transactions.
• Ability to apply sound judgment in the application of analytical conclusions to credit approval, loan structure, and management recommendations.
• Familiarity with various industries and commercial property types.
• Experience evaluating economic and market conditions in the markets or lines of business served.
• Experience analyzing collateral and collateral valuation.
• Knowledge of policies, procedures, and operations of commercial lending, including originations, underwriting, documentation, and credit risk analysis.