Credit Associate; Primarily Underwriting Small Business Administration Loans

Location

4910 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn, Ohio

This role reports to the Banking Group Portfolio Management (BGPM) and focuses on underwriting SBA‑guaranteed loan opportunities. The Credit Associate gathers, analyzes, and interprets a wide range of credit information for existing and prospective customers to assess creditworthiness, configure loan structures, and maintain the bank’s asset quality while ensuring compliance with credit policy.

• Evaluate loan requests to identify purpose, risk elements, and collateral adequacy.
• Assess liquidity, management quality, market position, industry, and overall business climate to estimate future profitability.
• Analyze credit data, financial statements, and tax returns to determine creditworthiness and risk.
• Apply accounting principles to financial modeling.
• Input, interpret, and assess risk rating model output and client data to develop credit recommendations.
• Develop the credit write‑up and make loan structuring decisions within delegated authority or recommend to Credit partners/Officers.
• Identify deteriorating credits early and propose restructuring recommendations.
• Initiate annual portfolio reviews.
• Review loan documentation to ensure alignment with approved terms.
• Create and maintain credit files and develop spreadsheets based on financial statements for underwriting analysis.
• Manage client set‑up, data tracking, document tracking, reporting, borrowing‑base testing, covenant compliance, trends, and dashboards.
• Provide financial analysis and portfolio administration to ensure accurate risk ratings.
• Prepare loan packages and monitor loan portfolio performance.
• Mentor, coach, and train Credit Analysts.
• Collaborate with bankers and credit partners to improve credit process efficiencies.
• Participate in projects that alter risk‑management policies, processes, or underwriting improvements.
• Perform any additional duties as assigned.

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience in finance, accounting, economics, or business.

Experience

• Minimum 2 years of commercial/specialty client segment underwriting, credit, banking, or financial services experience.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ability to learn other technology applications.
• Understanding of financial models.
• Ability to gather relevant research, analyze data, and synthesize large amounts of information for underwriting packages.
• Demonstrated understanding of commercial credit underwriting & approval methodologies, policies, and procedures.
• Strong presentation and communication skills with collaborative impact.
• Ability to plan, multi‑task, manage time effectively, and work independently with limited supervision.

Skills & Competencies

• Analytical thinking, data interpretation, and logical reasoning.
• Foundational accounting principles and financial statement analysis.
• Risk identification, assessment, and mitigation through loan terms.
• Initiative, prioritization, and deadline management.
• Clear and persuasive communication.
• Team collaboration and shared goal attainment.
• Ownership, reliability, and integrity.
• Evidence‑based decision making and open‑mindedness.

• Demonstrate Key’s Values and Code of Conduct.

General office work, prolonged sitting, frequent computer use, occasional lifting up to 10 lbs., and occasional overnight travel.

Base salary range: $63,000.00 – $96,000.00 per year, potentially varying by skills, experience, and location. Eligible for incentive compensation that may include production, commission, or discretionary incentives. This position also includes standard Key Bank benefits.

Key Corp is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to sustaining an inclusive culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, pregnancy, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Qualified individuals with disabilities or disabled veterans who are unable or limited in their ability to apply on this site may request reasonable accommodations by emailing