Merchant Services Underwriter

Job Type

Full-time

FFB, a dynamic and acclaimed single-branch bank born in the heart of Fresno, CA in 2005, is on a mission to redefine the banking experience. Our commitment to delivering top-notch banking services has propelled us to the forefront of the industry, earning us accolades and recognition. At FFB, we recognize the uniqueness of each individual who walks through our doors, and our dedicated team strives to craft personalized banking solutions that cater to their distinct needs.

What sets FFB apart is not just our Fresno roots but the diverse talents that make up our team, hailing from every corner of the country. We firmly believe that our people are our greatest strength, and we're constantly on the lookout for ambitious and passionate individuals who align with FFB's vision, regardless of their location. If you're ready to be part of a winning team and contribute to our ongoing success story, we invite you to apply and join the FFB family!

• 2024 & 2025 - American Banker - #1 Top Performing Publicly Traded Bank with under $2b in assets
• Ranked #1 on American Banker’s Top 20 Publicly Traded Banks under $2 Billion in assets for 2024 (noted in Q2 & Q3 2025 reports).
• Ranked by S&P Global as a top 35 best performing U.S. community bank (under $3B in assets) based on 2024 results.
• Named among the OTCQX Best 50 Companies for 2024.

• Company ownership through our Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP)
• A friendly, close-Knit work culture that encourages growth
• Opportunities to participate in community networking events
• Benefits package
• Medical/Dental/Vision
• Life Insurance
• Paid vacation
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Training & development
• Tuition reimbursement
• Employee assistance program
• Internal job posting & referral program

FFB prides itself on its core values of Teamwork, Relationship, Authenticity, and Commitment (TRAC). We expect that our team members will reflect these values in the workplace in various ways:

• Teamwork – We collaborate, hold each other accountable, and win together.
• Relationship – We are trustworthy, transparent, and respectful.
• Authentic – We are humble, vulnerable, and we speak up.
• Commitment – We are  hungry, responsive, and have a sense of urgency.

The Merchant Services Underwriter will review and analyze merchant applications and accounts to assess their risk exposure and creditworthiness. In addition to initial underwriting, this role will support concurrence reviews, ongoing oversight of ISO partner portfolios, and other responsibilities as assigned. The Underwriter will apply established policies and guidelines to help safeguard the Bank from financial and reputational risk.

• Conduct thorough credit and risk assessments of merchant applications, including evaluation of consumer credit reports, identity and fraud screenings (e.g., TIN/OFAC, address and bank verification), and analysis of application data using internal and external underwriting tools.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of credit/risk rating scales, underwriting policies, card network rules, and regulatory requirements to accurately assess merchant eligibility and mitigate risk.
• Maintain accurate and timely review documentation in internal systems and take appropriate action on merchant accounts based on risk assessment findings.
• Monitor merchant risk review queues and processing behavior to identify content-related risk and ensure adherence to card brand, reputational, and compliance standards.
• Perform due diligence reviews of merchant accounts and ISO-submitted files to ensure compliance with underwriting and onboarding standards.
• Perform quality assurance reviews and support process improvement by identifying gaps and ensuring adherence to underwriting guidelines.
• Develop and maintain process documentation to support consistency, audit readiness, and training.
• Manage internal and external communications related to underwriting and risk, including responding to inquiries, supporting partners, collaborating with sales teams, and engaging merchants to resolve pending items.
• Embodyn core…