Banking Underwriter Commercial Credit Analysis & Lending

Commercial Banking Underwriter

About This Role

The Commercial Banking Underwriter is responsible for performing independent commercial credit analysis and underwriting commercial loan requests for Commercial & Industrial (C&I), owner-occupied commercial real estate, investment real estate, SBA, and business banking relationships. This role serves as a key component of the Bank's credit risk management framework by assessing borrower creditworthiness, evaluating financial performance, analyzing collateral and guarantor support, and preparing comprehensive credit memoranda that support sound credit decisions.

The Commercial Banking Underwriter partners closely with Relationship Managers, Portfolio Managers, and Regional Credit Officers to provide objective credit recommendations while ensuring alignment with the Bank's credit policy, regulatory expectations, and risk appetite.

In This Role You Will

• Perform commercial credit underwriting and financial analysis for new commercial loan requests, renewals, extensions, modifications, and annual credit reviews
• Analyze business and personal financial statements, tax returns, cash flow performance, debt service coverage, liquidity, leverage, and repayment capacity
• Evaluate borrowers, guarantors, collateral, and overall transaction structure to determine creditworthiness and identify potential risks
• Prepare detailed credit memoranda, underwriting analyses, risk assessments, and loan recommendations for credit approval.
• Conduct cash flow analysis, global cash flow analysis, collateral analysis, covenant analysis, and industry assessments to support lending decisions
• Underwrite a variety of commercial lending transactions, including Commercial & Industrial (C&I) loans, commercial real estate (CRE) loans, working capital lines of credit, equipment financing, term loans, and SBA lending relationships
• Identify transaction risks, policy exceptions, and emerging credit concerns while recommending appropriate risk mitigants
• Assign and support risk ratings in accordance with Bank credit policy and regulatory expectations
• Collaborate with Relationship Managers, Portfolio Managers, Credit Officers, and other business partners throughout the loan approval process
• Provide well-supported and objective underwriting recommendations that facilitate informed credit decisions
• Maintain knowledge of commercial lending products, underwriting standards, accounting principles, market conditions, and credit risk management practices
• Participate in training and professional development opportunities to enhance commercial banking and underwriting expertise
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field required
• MBA, Master's degree, or advanced banking coursework, preferred
• Three or more years of experience in commercial banking, commercial lending, credit analysis, underwriting, portfolio management, or a related financial services role, preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of commercial lending, commercial credit underwriting, credit risk management, loan structuring, and commercial banking products
• Strong understanding of financial statement analysis, cash flow analysis, global cash flow analysis, credit policy, accounting principles, and regulatory expectations
• Experience evaluating commercial real estate, collateral, guarantor support, borrower financial strength, and overall transaction risk
• Ability to prepare thorough and accurate credit memoranda, underwriting presentations, and risk assessments.
• Strong analytical, reasoning, and problem-solving skills with the ability to assess complex credit scenarios and recommend appropriate risk mitigants
• Ability to exercise independent judgment while balancing sound credit practices and business objectives.
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills with the ability to clearly communicate underwriting recommendations and credit decisions
• Strong organizational, prioritization, and time management skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced commercial banking environment while maintaining accuracy and accountability
• Demonstrates professionalism, sound judgment, initiative, and discretion while contributing to a collaborative and team-oriented culture

Preferred Skills

• Commercial Credit Analysis
• Commercial Loan Underwriting
• Commercial Banking
• Commercial Lending
• Financial Statement Analysis
• Cash Flow Analysis
• Global Cash Flow
• Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Underwriting
• C&I Lending
• SBA Lending
• Credit Memo Preparation
• Loan Structuring
• Risk Assessment
• Credit Risk Management
• Portfolio Management

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree, required or MBA , preferred from a college or university\
• 3+ years of experience in commercial banking, commercial lending, credit analysis, underwriting, or a related financial services role, preferred

Compensation Disclosure

The range for this role takes into account many factors that First Bank considers when making hiring decisions, including but not limited to prior experience, skill set, training, and other internal business and organizational factors. First Bank generally does not hire at or near the top of the stated range. The range is driven by the geographic location of the anticipated hiring location; however, the specific range may vary depending on the geographic location for remote positions. Compensation decisions depend on the specific facts and circumstances of each hiring instance.

A reasonable estimate of the current pay range is $76,000 - $96,000, annually