Job Type

Full-time

Description

Role: This position is responsible for originating and administering a portfolio of commercial loans with the overall objective of maintaining credit quality, increasing profitability, and producing loan and deposit growth. Attend to the needs of commercial members to meet Blaze's core purpose of improving lives. Contribute to the team effort by performing other job-related duties as needed.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Sales and Business Development

• Develop and maintain referral networks and community relationships through active networking, business development activities, and participation in industry and community events to grow the credit union's membership base, loan portfolio, deposits, and overall assets.
• Proactively identify, solicit, and cultivate new business relationships by calling on prospective members and businesses to uncover lending, deposit, and treasury management opportunities.
• Gather, review, and analyze personal and business financial statements, tax returns, credit reports, and other supporting documentation to assess prospective lending opportunities.
• Evaluate financial information and member needs to determine creditworthiness, risk exposure, and alignment with the credit union's lending strategy and risk appetite.
• Structure commercial lending solutions that effectively meet member needs while maintaining sound credit quality and profitability.
• Independently underwrite and recommend commercial credit requests, demonstrating strong credit judgment and risk assessment skills.
• Identify, analyze, and communicate potential risks within new and existing credit relationships and recommend appropriate risk mitigation strategies.
• Collaborate with Commercial Credit Analysts, when applicable, to complete financial analysis, due diligence, and loan presentation preparation.
• Present loan requests and credit recommendations to Loan Committee and other approval authorities as required.
• Attend Loan Committee meetings and effectively address questions regarding assigned credit relationships, underwriting rationale, and risk considerations.
• Manage and respond to branch-generated commercial lending referrals, primarily involving loan requests exceeding $250,000.

Portfolio management

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with existing borrowers through regular contact and periodic account reviews to ensure member satisfaction, identify cross-sell opportunities, and monitor credit quality.
• Perform ongoing portfolio management and credit monitoring activities to assess financial performance, collateral adequacy, covenant compliance, and overall risk exposure.
• Conduct periodic reviews of higher-risk relationships requiring enhanced monitoring and oversight.
• Monitor assigned loan relationships for signs of deteriorating credit quality and proactively recommend corrective actions when necessary.
• Manage and administer high-risk credit relationships in accordance with established policies, procedures, and risk management standards.
• Ensure loan renewals, modifications, and extensions are completed accurately and timely to prevent administrative past-due exceptions.
• Complete annual credit reviews and risk-rating assessments within established deadlines and maintain accurate loan grading across the portfolio.
• Maintain a high-quality commercial loan portfolio through proactive risk identification, monitoring, and portfolio management practices.

Other support

• Provides coaching to branches on business development, lending services and related topics.
• Provides support to branches on commercial deposits in order to grow the CU's membership base and assets.
• Handles incoming calls and questions on loan and business related issues.
• Participates in special projects as assigned.

Other Duties

• Comply with applicable laws and regulations, including but not limited to, the Bank Secrecy Act, the Patriot Act, and the Office of Foreign Assets Control
• Exhibit Blaze's Core Value's: Better Lives, Thoughtfully Compassionate, Minnesota's Best, and Give Back
• Regular and predictable attendance
• Perform other duties as assigned to support effective department operation

Requirements

Experience/Education/Certifications/Licenses

• Minimum High School degree or equivalent
• Minimum 4 to 5 years experience in commercial lending

Demonstrated Knowledge

Knowledge of:

• Credit Union consumer and commercial products, services, policies and procedures
• Financial industry and related products in order to discuss them confidentially with members
• Commercial loan pipeline
• SBA and other guaranteed loan programs related to small businesses
• Microsoft Office with advanced Excel ability

Ability to:

• Analyze financial statement and global cash flows to determine potential solutions with previous experience using software or similar product
• Underwrite loans using a global cash flow approach
• Coordinate priorities, meet deadlines and work independently with minimal supervision
• Use clear written and verbal communication skills
• Make decisions and resolve problems efficiently to provide service to our members
• Problem solve, to make recommendations, and to exercise judgment in extending credit
• Organize multiple tasks and to maintain a courteous demeanor in a busy, high stress work environment
• Recognize and troubleshoot system problems and inefficiencies

Communication Skills

Ability to proactively respond to members/staff to problem solve based on guidelines; written communications are based on templates but can be modified

Physical Requirements

Ability to sit an stand; answer calls; operate computer; interact with internal staff and public on the phone; travel to designated offices; lift up to 20 lbs

We are committed to providing salary ranges for all open positions. Please note that the specific compensation for this role will be determined based on your experience, qualifications, location, and internal equity considerations.

The salary range for this position is: $91,399 to $100,000. This range reflects the base salary for this position. We have other benefits associated with this position which include: low-cost medical (as low as $20 a paycheck), dental insurance, vision insurance, quarterly bonuses, generous vacation and sick time hours, paid leave options, up to 6% 401k contribution, and tuition reimbursement.

Salary Description

$91,399 to $100,000