Loan Officer

Louisiana Land Bank, ACA is a locally owned and operated lending cooperative headquartered in Monroe, Louisiana, with 11 locations across the state serving agriculture and rural financing needs. For over 100 years, the organization has been Louisiana’s premier agricultural lender, specializing in tailored credit solutions for rural communities. The institution focuses on agricultural loans, agribusiness financing, forestry and timber operations, and both large- and small-scale farming. Team members live and work in the communities they serve, providing lenders with deep insight into the needs of farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses, and rural landowners. Applicants can expect to join a mission-driven organization dedicated to supporting the long-term growth and stability of Louisiana’s rural economy.

About the role

Recommends or approves loans in assigned territory within the limits of specific delegated authority. Develops and manages loan portfolios including loan originations in the trade area served by the association. Has some latitude for decision making; works under moderate supervision.

Responsibilities

• Develop and market new business within the service area.
• Assist prospective and current borrowers with their credit needs and formulate solutions to credit-related issues.
• Make and service leases, loans for operating equipment and real estate, and offer related services such as cash management products and crop insurance within delegated authority and in accordance with association policies. Make and/or convey decisions on loan approval, structure, and pricing. Exercise credit risk management responsibilities on loans within area of responsibility.
• Conduct simple to moderately complex credit analyses. Analyze balance sheets, income statements, and cash flows of potential borrowers to ascertain creditworthiness. Maintain current, adequate, and verified financial information on borrowers and guarantors as required by association policy.
• Perform loan servicing tasks, including partial releases, subordinations to mineral leases and right of ways, division orders, reamortizations, assumptions, severance agreements, insurance claims, additional advances, extensions, and conversions.
• Ensure all assigned loans are properly risk-rated, assigned loss given defaults are correct, and performance status assignments are proper.
• Comply with proper credit administration practices as outlined in the association’s policies and procedures.
• Perform collections on assigned loans and assist senior-level staff and management with collections on all loans in the portfolio. Work with delinquent borrowers to obtain satisfactory loan performance.
• Ensure adequate insurance coverage is maintained as required by loan conditions and monitor ad valorem taxes to ensure they are paid on the security.
• Assist with the title examination process on prospective loans to ensure validity of liens on property pledged as collateral or security interest on chattels. Prepare loan closing packages and facilitate the loan closing process in accordance with all applicable association and FCA policies and regulations.
• Perform appraisals, inspections, and/or collateral evaluations in compliance with district and association standards and procedures.
• Assist with or attend public relations functions for the association.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Agricultural Economics, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Two or more years of experience as a loan officer or loan officer trainee.

Skills

• General knowledge of accounting/financial systems.
• Specialized knowledge of accounting/finance principles.
• Skill in oral and written communication.
• Basic skill level in Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to perform basic to intermediate-level accounting/financial analyses under moderate supervision.

Working Conditions

• Ability to sit for long periods of time and stand for limited periods.
• Ability to walk for moderate distances.
• Frequent finger/hand manipulation (e.g., keyboard, office equipment, small hand tools).
• Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling up to 50 pounds.

Working Relationships

• Frequent interaction with customers, association departmental staff, and management.
• Occasional interaction with association senior management, CEO, and/or board of directors.
• Occasional interaction with Farm Credit Bank of Texas staff.
• Frequent interaction with area professionals including real estate agents, commercial bankers, and others who deal with the association in the normal course of business.