The Retail Mortgage Underwriter (Jumbo & Conventional) is responsible for reviewing, analyzing, and underwriting residential mortgage loan applications with a focus on conventional conforming and jumbo products. This role ensures sound credit decisions in alignment with Georgia Banking Company's credit policies, investor guidelines, and regulatory requirements, while balancing risk management with service and speed.
This position plays a critical role in supporting GBC's growth in high-balance lending and maintaining a strong credit culture across the Retail Mortgage platform. Key Responsibilities:
Underwriting & Credit Analysis- Review and underwrite residential mortgage loan files, primarily conventional (Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac) and jumbo loans.
- Analyze borrower credit, income, assets, liquidity, and collateral, with an emphasis on complex financial profiles.
- Evaluate self-employed borrowers, high-net-worth clients, multiple income streams, and layered risk scenarios.
- Assess jumbo loan structures, including reserves, liquidity, and compensating factors.
- Apply DU/LP findings, overlays, and internal jumbo guidelines to determine creditworthiness.
Decisioning & Conditions- Issue clear, well-supported loan approvals, suspensions, or denials.
- Structure loans and determine appropriate conditions based on risk characteristics and loan type.
- Partner with Sales and Operations to proactively address deal challenges and move loans to closing.
Compliance & Risk Management- Ensure all loans comply with agency, investor, and internal jumbo guidelines, as well as applicable regulatory requirements.
- Maintain high loan quality standards with strong attention to detail and documentation.
- Identify inconsistencies, red flags, and potential fraud risk and escalate as appropriate.
Collaboration & Communication- Act as a key partner to Loan Officers, Processors, and Secondary/Capital Markets on loan structuring.
- Provide clear, timely communication on underwriting decisions, conditions, and exceptions.
- Support a solutions-oriented, service-driven culture across the mortgage platform.
Pipeline & Performance Management- Manage an active pipeline of loans while meeting turn-time and service level expectations.
- Maintain accurate file documentation within LOS systems (e.g., Encompass).
- Stay current on changes to agency guidelines, jumbo investor requirements, and market conditions.
Requirements
- 4-8+ years of residential mortgage underwriting experience
- Strong experience underwriting conventional and jumbo loans.
- Deep understanding of income analysis, including self-employed borrowers
- Proven ability to manage complex files and high loan volumes
- Must live in the Atlanta area and able to come into the office as needed for business meetings
Preferred- Experience with Encompass
- Experience underwriting Non-QM loans
- Experience underwriting portfolio/jumbo loans within a community or regional bank
- Exposure to high-net-worth client financials
Skills & Competencies- Strong analytical and credit decisioning ability
- High attention to detail and risk awareness
- Ability to assess complex financial scenarios and layered risk
- Strong communication and collaboration skills
- Ability to prioritize and perform in a fast-paced, production environment
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