Lending Specialist - Community Mortgage

About the role

As a Lending Specialist - Community Mortgage, you'll provide underwriting and credit analysis support to lending partners as they evaluate, structure, and process loan applications. You'll review borrower information and supporting documentation, assess credit risk, and help identify eligibility, policy, and documentation requirements. You'll also prepare clear underwriting summaries and recommendations, support timely credit decisions, and help ensure each file meets internal standards and regulatory expectations. This role is well suited to someone who brings strong analytical thinking, sound judgment, and a commitment to prudent lending that supports community objectives.

Responsibilities

• Credit Analysis – Review loan applications, financial information, credit reports, tax returns, collateral details, and supporting documentation to assess borrower capacity, repayment ability, and overall credit risk.
• Underwriting Support – Identify missing documentation, underwriting conditions, and policy or eligibility concerns, and prepare clear credit summaries and recommendations for approval or further review.
• File Quality and Compliance – Help ensure files are complete, accurate, and aligned with internal lending standards, regulatory requirements, and applicable program criteria.
• Partnership – Work closely with lending partners and internal stakeholders to structure credit solutions that balance sound risk management with community lending objectives.
• Process Management – Maintain accurate underwriting notes and system updates, communicate decisions and outstanding items clearly, and escalate complex or exception-based requests when needed.
• Continuous Improvement – Contribute to process improvements that enhance consistency, efficiency, and service delivery across underwriting support activities.

Requirements

• Relevant underwriting experience – Experience in underwriting, credit analysis, mortgage lending, community development finance, small business lending, or commercial lending. A background supporting specialized lending teams is an asset.
• Credit risk assessment – Strong knowledge of lending principles, financial analysis, and credit risk assessment, with the ability to review financial statements, tax returns, cash flow, credit reports, and borrower documentation.
• Specialized mortgage knowledge – Deep knowledge of Federal Housing Administration (FHA) guidelines and experience working with grants and down payment assistance programs.
• Community-focused lending – Familiarity with community development programs, affordable lending initiatives, mission-based credit products, or Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) related lending is preferred.
• Organized and detail-oriented – Ability to manage multiple files simultaneously while maintaining a high standard of accuracy, documentation quality, and follow-through.
• Values alignment – You bring your real self to work and live the values of trust, teamwork, and accountability.

This position does not offer visa sponsorship. Candidates must be legally eligible to work at the specified location.

Pay

Expected salary range: $85,000 – $110,000 for the Chicago, IL market, based on experience, qualifications, and location. The successful candidate may be eligible for the relevant business unit’s