The Role The Assistant Vice President and Vice President of Lending maintains, grows, and services a portfolio while representing Farm Credit Illinois in the community and creating relationships with the people of rural America.
What You Will Contribute• Build relationships and generate new business by actively engaging in the agricultural community, identifying prospects and referral sources, and participating in member and industry events
• Drive loan growth by pursuing new business opportunities, expanding relationships through referrals and cross-selling, and maintaining an active prospect pipeline
• Apply agricultural and business knowledge to assess financial positions, advise on credit decisions, and deliver practical lending solutions across available loan products
• Originate loans by assessing member and prospect needs, identifying growth opportunities, and partnering with team members to prepare complete applications
• Prepare and support credit packages through financial analysis and collaboration with Credit Services and loan committees
• Close loans by ensuring accuracy and adherence to credit standards while delivering a positive and consistent member experience
• Proactively manage and service the loan portfolio by anticipating servicing needs, identifying and addressing risk, monitoring market conditions, and implementing effective servicing plans
What We Are Looking For Required Skills - General knowledge of agricultural economics and farm operations
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
- Ability to assess complex financial and business information
- Effective communication and relationship-building skills
- Comfort using technology and data to improve efficiency and sales effectiveness
- Ability to collaborate, build trust, and work effectively across teams
Minimum Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in business, finance, agriculture, or a related field
or equivalent education, experience, and skillset sufficient to perform the essential functions of the role - Assistant Vice President level: No prior experience required
- Vice President level: Minimum of 3 years of experience in sales or an ag-related field
- Willingness and ability to travel throughout the assigned territory