Personal Lending Officer (59825)

First State Bancshares Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

About the role

The Personal Lending Officer helps individuals achieve and protect financial success by offering tailored lending solutions for both installment and real estate needs. This role combines relationship building with technical expertise to guide customers through the lending process, ensuring responsible credit decisions that reflect the bank’s conservative credit culture and commitment to growing stronger communities.

Responsibilities

• Build long-term, profitable partnerships through goal-directed, organized relationship development.
• Engage customers in structured conversations to identify financial needs and present meaningful solutions across installment and real estate products.
• Apply a consistent sales approach: prospecting, rapport building, presenting value, qualifying, closing, and generating referrals.
• Collaborate across business lines to deliver holistic financial advice, including insurance and financial advisory services.
• Drive growth of core deposits and non-interest income (business and payment services, insurance, and financial advisory commissions) in alignment with the market strategic plan.
• Promote financial success through trust-based, value-driven interactions that prioritize customer outcomes over transactional selling.
• Guide customers through the application process for both installment and real estate loans.
• Collect and verify borrower information including income, debts, collateral, and property details.
• Enter applications into the Loan Origination System (LOS) and Encompass, ensuring accurate documentation and milestone tracking.
• Coordinate with Loan Coordinators and title companies to ensure timely and complete processing.
• In structuring loan transactions, incorporate deposit relationships and non-interest income solutions when appropriate, ensuring these additions serve the customer’s needs and support the bank’s strategic growth objectives.
• Conduct financial analysis including DTI, LTV, ATR/QM validation, and basic cash flow reviews.
• Analyze assets, liabilities, income, and credit reports to support sound loan decisions.
• Collaborate with credit analysts for complex underwriting and apply judgment consistent with the bank’s conservative credit culture.
• Maintain full compliance with banking regulations including RESPA, HMDA, Reg Z, Reg B, Flood Determination, and others.
• Ensure documentation is complete, accurate, and professionally presented.
• Monitor for changes in loan terms and manage change circumstances appropriately.
• Monitor loan performance and identify early signs of delinquency or financial distress.
• Communicate professionally with borrowers regarding past-due accounts and repayment options.
• Document collection efforts and support restructuring when appropriate.
• Coordinate escrow setup and monitoring for real estate loans.
• Follow up on documentation exceptions and maintain proactive communication to support customer financial health.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business, finance, or a related field preferred but not required.
• Experience in personal/consumer banking, with demonstrated ability to originate, underwrite, and manage installment and real estate loan products and portfolios.
• Strong financial analysis skills, including review of income, assets, liabilities, credit reports, debt-to-income (DTI), loan-to-value (LTV), and ATR/QM requirements.
• Proven ability to build long-term customer partnerships through consultative, relationship- and needs-based conversations, and a consistent, value-driven sales approach.
• Solid working knowledge of banking regulations and compliance standards, including RESPA, HMDA, Reg Z, Reg B, and Flood Determination requirements, as well as ability to interpret and apply organizational policies consistently.
• Experience supporting loan portfolios post-closing, including monitoring performance, addressing delinquency, coordinating escrows, and maintaining accurate documentation.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position for long durations (e.g., 6 to 8 hours with breaks).
• Occasionally required to stand or walk short distances.
• Manual dexterity for using keyboard, mouse, and telephone system.
• Visual acuity to read computer screens and written documents.
• Occasionally lifting office supplies, files, and small packages (typically up to 10 to 25 lbs).
• Ability to hear and understand spoken communication, including customer (internal and external) inquiries and phone conversations.
• Ability to speak clearly and be understood in person and over the phone.

Additional Information

Being a First Stater means that you roll up your sleeves and dig in. It means you work hard and do your best. It means that you enjoy learning new skills and are always eager to improve. It means you help the team by being a great teammate. It means you're passionate about making a difference in the lives of our customers and our communities. It means you consistently find new ways to improve our organization.