Commercial Loan Officer II

HOPE (Hope Enterprise Corporation, Hope Credit Union and Hope Policy Institute) provides financial services; leverages resources; and engages in advocacy that strengthens the financial health of people in under-resourced Deep South communities. Since 1994, these efforts have benefited more than three million people in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee, and influenced billions in persistent poverty communities across the nation. Learn more at https://www.hopecu.org/.

• Title: Commercial Loan Officer II
• Department: Commercial Lending
• Reports To: Regional Business Sales Manager, VP-Southern Region
• Supervises: N/A
• Job Classification: Full-time, Exempt

Position Summary

The Commercial Loan Officer II is responsible for developing, originating, underwriting, closing, and managing commercial loan relationships that support the growth and profitability of Hope Credit Union. This position focuses on building strong relationships with business members, referral sources, and community partners while maintaining a high-quality commercial loan portfolio. The Commercial Loan Officer II evaluates credit risk, structures lending solutions, monitors portfolio performance, and ensures compliance with all regulatory and credit union lending policies.

Responsibilities:

Business Development & Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain an active referral network of business professionals, community partners, commercial real estate professionals, and co-lending partners to identify new lending opportunities.
• Generate new commercial loan and deposit relationships through proactive calling efforts, networking, community involvement, and member referrals.
• Cultivate and strengthen relationships with existing business members to identify opportunities for additional financial products and services.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to business members by understanding their financial goals and providing appropriate lending and treasury management solutions.

Loan Origination & Underwriting

• Meet with prospective and existing members to identify financing needs and recommend suitable loan structures.
• Analyze financial statements, tax returns, cash flow projections, collateral values, and other supporting documentation to assess creditworthiness.
• Collaborate with credit analysts and internal partners to evaluate loan requests, identify risks, and develop sound lending recommendations.
• Prepare and present commercial loan packages for approval in accordance with established lending authorities and policies.
• Facilitate loan closings by coordinating with members, legal counsel, title companies, and other third parties.

Portfolio Management

• Manage an assigned commercial loan portfolio to maintain asset quality, member satisfaction, and profitability.
• Monitor member financial performance, loan covenant compliance, collateral sufficiency, and overall credit risk.
• Conduct annual relationship reviews, financial analyses, and risk assessments to ensure continued credit quality.
• Perform periodic site visits, business inspections, and collateral reviews as required.
• Proactively identify potential problem credits and develop action plans to minimize risk and protect credit union assets.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Ensure all loans are properly structured, documented, and maintained in compliance with internal policies, regulatory requirements, and lending guidelines.
• Maintain accurate and complete loan files and supporting documentation.
• Monitor portfolio performance and delinquency trends, recommending corrective actions when necessary.
• Participate in loan review and audit processes and respond to findings as appropriate.
• Stay current on commercial lending regulations, industry trends, and credit union products and services.

Cross-Selling & Member Service

• Promote and refer business members to additional Hope Credit Union products and services, including treasury management, deposits, business accounts, merchant services, and other financial solutions.
• Work collaboratively with retail, mortgage, wealth management, and operations teams to deliver exceptional member service.
• Facilitate access to external technical resources when appropriate, including accounting, legal, engineering, marketing, and management consultants.

Qualifications

Required:

• High School Diploma or GED, or equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered
• Minimum of 3-5 years of commercial lending or commercial banking experience.
• Demonstrated experience in commercial credit analysis, underwriting, and portfolio management.

Preferred:

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, Economics, or a related field preferred.

Key Competencies & Skills:

• Organizational Awareness - Having and using knowledge of systems, situations, procedures, and culture inside the organization to identify potential problems and opportunities; perceiving the impact and the implications of decisions on other components of the organization.
• Results Orientation- Being persistent and showing perseverance on achieving concrete and tangible results out of personal responsibility; getting optimum results from situations and being ready to take action and show tenacity in case of obstacles or resistance.
• Planning and Organizing- Setting priorities and defining actions, time, and resources needed to achieve predefined goals
• Problem Solving- Having the ability to identify problems and issues of varying issues of varying complexities and to find effective solutions with few guidelines
• Initiative- Spotting opportunities within a circle of influence; anticipating threats and acting on them; self- starting rather than waiting passively until the situation demands action
• Achievement Orientation- Being persistent and showing perseverance on achieving concrete and tangible results out of personal responsibility; getting optimum results from situations; being ready to take action and show tenacity in case of obstacles or resistance
• Strong understanding of commercial loan underwriting, financial statement analysis, and cash flow analysis.
• Knowledge of commercial real estate, C&I lending, and business financial structures.
• Ability to identify, assess, and mitigate credit risk.
• Excellent business development, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency with commercial lending systems, financial analysis software, and Microsoft Office applications.

Performance Expectations

• Achieve established commercial loan production goals.
• Maintain a high-quality commercial loan portfolio with acceptable risk metrics.
• Expand business member relationships and referral networks.
• Deliver exceptional member service while supporting the strategic growth objectives of Hope Credit Union.
• Demonstrate commitment to the credit union's mission, values, and member-focused culture.

Comprehensive Benefits Package:

• Paid Vacation and Sick Time
• 11 Paid Holidays
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Disability Benefits
• Life Insurance, Critical Illness, Accident
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Tuition Reimbursement, Professional Development

Hope Enterprise Corporation does not participate in or engage in any form of visa sponsorship, including employment-based visa applications or extensions (e.g., H-1B, TN, O-1, OPT, STEM OPT, etc.). Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout the duration of employment.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.