Loan Assistant I

At SouthState, we combine personal relationships with forward-thinking solutions, fostering steady growth and deep community roots since the 1930s. We help team members achieve their greater purpose by recognizing individual contributions, cultivating potential, and inspiring success while upholding our core values: building trust, fostering lasting relationships, and pursuing excellence.

About the role

As a Loan Assistant I, you will provide essential support to the deal team in managing simple commercial loans and basic client relationships. This entry-level role is ideal for individuals starting a career in commercial lending, offering opportunities for growth and development. You will assist in tracking and processing loans, ensuring compliance with regulations, and maintaining clear communication with clients and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Assist in tracking and managing the loan pipeline, loan maturities, uninsured reports, and past-due reports, ensuring timely processing and adherence to deadlines.
• Remain knowledgeable of all state and federal lending and documentation regulations, as well as bank policies and guidelines, to ensure compliance.
• Collect and organize borrower documentation, such as income verification, credit reports, and identification.
• Input data into loan processing systems accurately and efficiently.
• Provide backup support to other Loan Assistants to cover PTO requests and absences.
• Order title searches, UCC searches, appraisals, and flood certifications as needed.
• Coordinate closings with lenders, attorneys, insurance agents, and clients.
• Initiate the disbursement of closing funds and issue loan proceeds via checks and/or wires.
• Review closed and funded loans for document completion, ensuring loans are booked accurately and timely.
• Contact settlement agents, register of deeds, and title insurance agencies to obtain post-purchase documentation as necessary.
• Maintain a tickler system for outstanding post-closing documentation (collateral and exception monitoring) and report on status during weekly meetings.

Lender / Customer Support

• Maintain clear and effective communication with lenders (typically 1-2) and other stakeholders throughout the loan process.
• Provide exceptional client service by offering assistance and responding to questions and requests for information.
• Notify clients of any issues or discrepancies and assist in resolving them.

Culture Champion

• Advocate for our culture by providing prompt, efficient, and exceptional customer service.
• Build internal and external relationships with customers.
• Demonstrate a commitment to the company’s core values.
• Maintain a strong work ethic, results-driven mindset, and commitment to meeting deadlines and achieving company and department goals.
• Participate in community organizations and projects.
• Actively engage in learning and development for continued personal and professional growth.

Confidentiality and Compliance

• Ensure confidentiality of all sensitive material and matters, directing documents to appropriate parties and obtaining approvals as necessary.
• Adhere to compliance, security, and internal guidelines, as well as applicable compliance and consumer protection regulations, to prevent fraud and protect customer assets.

Skills

• Excellent time management, organizational skills, and attention to detail.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and other computer skills.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, work independently, and exercise good judgment in problem-solving.
• Personal and professional responsibility with the ability to work with limited direction.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent (required).
• Bachelor’s degree or additional coursework in banking, finance, or lending (preferred).
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience in commercial lending documentation (preferred).
• Minimum of one (1) year of commercial banking support experience or client service experience within a financial institution, including handling client account inquiries and maintenance requests.

Training

• Required annual compliance training.
• New Employee Orientation.

Physical Demands

• Ability to effectively access and interpret information on computer screens, documents, and reports.
• This position requires significant time in front of a computer, which can be done sitting or standing with the appropriate desk setup.

Work Environment

• This role may be in a cubicle or private office environment, which can be loud throughout the day.
• For telecommuting roles (hybrid or 100% remote), a secure home office environment free from background noise and distractions is required, along with a reliable private internet connection (cable or fiber preferred, not cellular data).

Travel

• Travel may be required for lender and/or client meetings, all-hands meetings, career development, site visits, or acquisition/merger support.

Work Location: 25 Bull Street #100, Savannah, Georgia 31401