Credit Products Officer III - National Franchise Banking

About the Role:

The Credit Products Officer (CPO) is responsible for underwriting, structuring, and managing credit relationships within the restaurant and franchise portfolio. Managing new and renewal credit requests and mitigating credit risk for a large and complex portfolio of commercial relationships. Typical transactions include multi-unit franchisor, independently branded, and franchisee operators (sponsor-backed and owner-operator) utilizing working capital / development lines of credit, cash flow term loans, equipment financing, and commercial real estate loans (owner-occupied) supporting franchise operations.

The role performs advanced financial, industry, and sponsor/management analysis; designs and recommends credit structures and covenants; prepares decision-ready credit memoranda; review and negotiation of legal documentation; assigns/defends risk ratings; executes ongoing monitoring (annual reviews, covenant compliance, early warning indicators, criticized/problem credit support) in partnership with Client Solutions Managers (CSMs) and Relationship Managers; and trains/mentors junior Credit Products Officers.

Analyze business, industry, financial data and other supporting credit information concerning an applicant’s 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. Makes recommendations on loan structure & terms and refers these issues to the next appropriate level of authority.

May include evaluation of enterprise-level and unit-level performance drivers (store sales trends, margins, labor and food cost sensitivity, operating leverage, and multi-unit execution risk). Additionally, may include evaluation of franchise and lease agreements for key risk factors.

Prepare timely, concise and accurate credit recommendations, and deliver tailored financing solutions 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).Perform franchise-specific diligence, including assessment of franchisor/brand strength, unit economics, and contractual obligations that affect cash flow. Performs review and negotiation of loan agreements, guaranty structures, collateral packages, and covenants. Works directly with outside counsel to ensure documentation aligns with underwriting intent, policy, and regulatory expectations.

Monitor borrower financial performance in line with commercial and/or 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. Ensures borrower notifications are sent and approvals are obtained to resolve any violations in a timely manner.

Partners with Client Solutions Managers and Relationship Managers to offer insights into customer financial needs, including relationship expansion opportunities identified using Line of Business-approved relationship expansion tools (i.e. ancillary products). May also offer recommendations 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 in-person meetings and calls as appropriate and develops client relationships to act as a secondary point of contact for the client. Responsible for participating in the development and retention of customer relationships as well as fully…