Sr Commercial Credit Underwriter

Position Purpose

The Commercial Underwriter underwrites commercial business and real estate loan requests. The underwriter analyzes financial information, borrower and guarantor business and credit history, tenant leases, property condition reports and appraisals, market trends, and conditions and recommends loan actions. The underwriter analyzes commercial loan applications and renewals and determines credit worthiness and appropriate grading for consideration of the initial loan request and annual risk grading.

The underwriter assists the sales staff to maximize the cross‑sales effort as the loan request is being processed. The underwriter prepares loans for legal documentation and monitors the closing process. The underwriter follows up to ensure timely renewals, reporting requirements, and compliance with First Fed Bank policies and regulatory guidelines.

• Perform credit analysis and underwrite commercial loan applications received by Relationship Managers to determine eligibility of request, ensuring compliance with First Federal Lending policies and regulatory guidelines.
• Review and evaluate credit data provided by commercial loan requests and analyze annual financial data and sources of financial information to determine profitability and qualification of loan.
• Perform all key ratios to determine borrower/project strength and compliance with First Federal commercial credit policies and procedures.
• Analyze loan collateral including property condition reports and overall strength of the borrower/applicant.
• Recommend the addition of collateral, guarantors, or alternative loan terms or underwriting enhancements as necessary.
• Recommend terms, conditions, and covenants of the Business Loan Agreement for each loan.
• Prepare the loan presentation document to support and evaluate the loan request, determine credit quality for loan grading purposes, make recommendations, and identify potential risks associated with the proposed credit.
• Discuss any adverse credit issues with the Credit Administrator.
• Define loan documentation requirements for transactions and review existing loan documentation for validity.
• Ensure all due diligence and background evaluation is complete and thorough before credit approval is granted.
• In coordination with the Relationship Managers prepare the narrative portion of the Credit Memo.
• Ensure that all loan files presented to the Loan Committee have been properly reviewed and prepared and are pre‑approved prior to presentation by the Credit Administrator and/or the Chief Credit Officer.
• Verify that all conditions of approval are met and approve/decline any exceptions to the conditions of approval prior to signing/closing.
• Review new loan documentation prior to signing/closing for accuracy and validity, in relation to each loan.
• Perform credit analysis and underwrite existing commercial loan relationships.
• Perform financial analysis of existing borrowers to provide an overall assessment of debt service potential, business financial viability and strength of guarantors for credit support.
• Analyze the quality of collateral as to value and credit support for current or requested credit transactions.
• Define perfection requirements for collateral.
• Define appropriate structure and pricing for requested transactions/relationships, including workouts and troubled debt restructures.
• Ensure that all existing credit files are well organized and updated with current financials and other documentation required in the business loan agreement.
• Participate in Credit Committee discussions of presentations as requested by the Credit Administrator and the Chief Credit Officer.
• Participate in the Special Assets Committee for Commercial Loans.
• Coordinate with the Relationship Manager and/or their support staff to ensure the required financial information is collected from borrowers and prepared in proper format.
• Ensure that Risk Rating Worksheets are prepared accurately and timely.
• Review all property inspections prepared by the Relationship Managers.
• Perform annual risk assessments on existing credits in accordance with defined policy and schedule.
• Work with the relationship manager of account to…