CRE Underwriter

About the Role

Underwrites new and renewal Commercial Real Estate affordable housing credit requests primarily comprised of construction and permanent loans for affordable housing projects throughout Columbia’s footprint. Collaborates with Relationship Managers to accurately present findings, including business rationale and risk mitigations, in order to obtain credit approval and meet customer needs.

• Analyzes business, industry, financial data and other supporting credit information concerning an applicant’s affordable housing credit request; identifies key business and financial risks that may impact the repayment prospects by the borrower; derives conclusions supporting the credit recommendation based on documented facts and/or sound judgement.

• Prepares timely, concise and accurate credit recommendations, with limited supervision or revision. Includes: (1) quantitative components within the underwriting narrative documenting the credit analysis; (2) accurate use of risk rating scoring models (aka Dual Risk Rating), both quantitative and qualitative rating elements, to ensure customers and loans are properly risk-rated; (3) accurate identification and mitigation of all exceptions to Bank tracked policies exceptions (TPE), tracked guidelines exceptions (TGE), procedures and compliance regulations;
  
  and (4) accurate loan coding consistent with nature of the borrowing relationship and terms of the credit(s).

• Presents facts and offers opinions/recommendations to Relationship Managers concerning applicant’s credit worthiness.

• Monitors borrower and guarantor financial performance in line with real estate loan documents; spreads financial statement and/or ensures required financial statements are spread in accordance with Bank Guidelines and resulting covenant calculations are accurate, complete and adhere to approval conditions and loan documentation. Collaborates with Relationship Managers to ensure borrower notifications are sent and approvals are obtained to resolve any violations in a timely manner.

• Conducts periodic market analysis and other projects to support the lending and monitoring efforts of the team.

• Partners with Relationship Managers to offer insights into customer financial needs, including opportunities identified using Line of Business-approved relationship expansion tools. May also offer opinions related to a loan structure’s effectiveness to mitigate risks, appropriate to prevailing competitive market environment and Bank risk tolerances.

• Partners with Relationship Managers in customer and prospect calls as appropriate and with the approval of the Affordable Housing Manager.

• May work with Relationship Manager and outside legal counsel to obtain correct and accurate loan documentation that memorializes the terms and conditions of approved credit actions.

• Reviews and monitors commercial and/or real estate loan documents for accuracy, completeness, and adherence to approval conditions.

• Prepares and presents construction monitoring reports, assists in gathering, updating, and tracking ticklers, and annual term loan reviews.

• Demonstrates compliance with all bank regulations for assigned job function and applies to designated job responsibilities — knowledge may be gained through coursework and on-the-job training. Keeps up to date on regulation changes.

• Follows all Bank policies and procedures, compliance regulations, and completes all required annual or job-specific training.

• Maintain a working knowledge of Bank’s written policies and procedures regarding Bank Secrecy Act, Regulation CC, Regulation E, Bank Security and other regulations as applicable to this job description.

• May be asked to coach, mentor, or train others and teach coursework as subject matter expert.

• Actively learns, demonstrates, and fosters the Columbia corporate culture in all actions and words.

• Takes personal initiative and is a positive example for others to emulate.

• Embraces our vision to become “Business Bank of Choice”

• May perform other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, or equivalent work experience.
• 6+ years of commercial underwriting/credit analysis experience or relevant…