Senior Standby Letter of Credit Specialist

Job Description

U.S. Bank is hiring in our Global Trade & Standby Services (GTSS) department for a Senior Standby Letter of Credit Specialist. Are you a seasoned Standby Letter of Credit (SBLC) professional who thrives in a fast-paced, high-impact trade finance environment? This role sits at the center of U.S. Bank’s Global Trade & Standby Services (GTSS) organization, supporting complex, high‑visibility standby letter of credit transactions for clients and internal partners.

In this senior individual contributor role, you’ll own the end-to-end lifecycle of standby LCs, partner closely with relationship managers and clients, and apply deep technical expertise to ensure transactions are structured, drafted, issued, and administered with precision, compliance, and confidence.

This is a hands‑on, high‑volume role designed for professionals who enjoy navigating complexity, influencing outcomes, and delivering results in a highly regulated environment.

You’ll be responsible for the hands‑on processing, administration, and advisory support of the Bank’s standby letter of credit portfolio, while serving as a trusted subject‑matter expert across GTSS.

• Drafting and negotiating standby LC language
  , partnering with Relationship Managers, Credit, Legal, Compliance, and clients to align transaction needs with internal policies and risk standards.
• Managing the full standby LC lifecycle
  —from structuring and issuance through amendments, draws, confirmations, advising, and releases.
• Handling complex standby LC structures, including syndicated transactions, direct‑pay / IRB support, and counter or counter‑counter standby LCs.
• Confirming credit approvals, client line setup, and required documentation before proceeding with issuance, amendments, or other key lifecycle actions.
• Applying ISP
  98 and/or UCP 600 rules to support drafting, amendments, and draw processing; clearly explaining rule‑driven requirements to stakeholders.
• Reviewing presentations and drawing documents for compliance with LC terms, identifying discrepancies, communicating decisions, and coordinating timely resolution.
• Managing a high‑volume portfolio (20–30 active transactions at any given time) while balancing multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholder needs.
• Serving as a key point of contact for clients, beneficiaries, relationship managers, and internal/external counsel on LC drafting, amendment, and draw‑related matters.
• Identifying, escalating, and resolving operational risks and exceptions
  , while providing clear status updates and reporting on trends, escalations, and portfolio activity.
• Supporting a quality‑driven environment, where work is reviewed through QC and audit processes and continuous improvement is encouraged.

• Accurate, compliant, and timely processing of standby LCs in a highly audited environment.
• Strong partnership with relationship managers and internal teams.
• Clear, professional communication with clients and external parties.
• Effective prioritization and calm execution in a fast‑paced, high‑pressure setting.
• Ownership mindset—driving issues to resolution and escalating when appropriate.

• Charlotte, NC
• St. Paul, MN
• Portland, OR

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Eight or more years of relevant work experience.
• Standby Letter of Credit experience is required.

• Deep SBLC expertise, including drafting and issuing standby letters of credit and translating client requirements into clear, enforceable LC terms.
• Strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills, with comfort engaging clients, beneficiaries, and internal partners (RM, Credit, Compliance, Legal).
• Proficiency with LC rules and practices, including ISP
  98 and/or UCP 600.
• Demonstrated ability to manage high transaction volume with strong attention to detail and sound judgment.
• Proven problem‑solving skills and ability to work through ambiguity.
• Experience operating in a cross‑functional, highly collaborative environment.
• Clear, professional written and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with trade and loan systems such as Trade
  360, AFS, and/or Loan IQ (preferred).
• Prior experience working in…