CRA Officer

Bar Harbor Bankshares•Manchester, NH

About The Position

Summary: Responsible for the Bank’s Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) program. Works with Senior & Executive Management, the Chief Compliance Officer and business line leaders to ensure the Bank has a strong CRA program, including, but not limited to, loan programs and products, branch footprint and consumer products, adequate levels of lending and investments in the communities served, and adequate data collection and reporting programs to support the goals of meeting the credit needs of the communities in the Bank’s service areas, including low and moderate income neighborhood Responsibilities ( Essential ): Expert knowledge of the CRA regulation, paying additional attention to the FDIC interpretation. Monitors for changes and recommendations; implementing updates to procedures, policies and practices as needed. Enhances the Bank’s CRA plan to ensure established goals and objectives are met for the institution and within each state and MSA that the Bank conducts business in. Works in partnership with appropriate senior managers and departments to design programs to meet the credit and housing needs within the Bank’s service area. Assists in the assessment of existing products and development of new products, especially products that are innovative and flexible, to ensure the Bank’s lending programs, deposit products and other financial services address its responsibilities under the CRA. Coordinates with federal and/or state regulatory agency examiners during CRA examinations. Gathers data as requested. Coordinates with internal audit to ensure that compliance issues are addressed adequately and timely. Chair the CRA Committee. Prepares reports, including a semi-annual self-assessment, for the CRA Committee detailing the Bank’s performance and effectiveness when measured against the Bank’s established CRA program goals and regulatory expectations. Maintains the CRA Public File as required and respond to inquiries in a timely manner. Partners with various departments and Training & Development to ensure employees are educated on the CRA regulations and their responsibilities. Participates in finding opportunities to increase the Bank’s CRA qualified Investments; coordinate with Finance and Credit Admin to ensure investments meet safe and sound opportunities. Recommend new opportunities to CRA Committee. Monitor ongoing value of CRA investments. Works with the Director of Community Giving to maximize CRA eligibility of donations and sponsorships. Review each donation within internal tracking systems and mark eligibility. Actively works to monitor and encourage CRA-eligible volunteer activities throughout the Bank’s footprint. Set a positive example by volunteering on various boards and committees. Reviews and marks all volunteer activities for CRA eligibility. Seeks out and engages with community organizations that the Bank can partner with to meet CRA goals and objectives. Creates Financial Literacy programs that staff can use to deliver to various employers, non-profits, schools and others. Assists in preparing the annual Fair Lending Analysis report. Works with consumer and commercial lending departments on strategies to improve performance. Member of the Bank’s ESG committee. Provides data for annual report as requested.

Requirements

College degree or relevant work experience
5+ years of Compliance experience to include CRA
Strong industry knowledge of various technologies, systems, processes, programs, and products
Demonstrated decision-making and innovative problem solving skills, exhibiting initiative and resolution-focused judgement
Demonstrated effective managerial and leadership skills
Strong writing skills
The ability to articulate and speak publicly
Strong analysis skills and the ability to recognize trends and proactively identify risks

Responsibilities

Expert knowledge of the CRA regulation, paying additional attention to the FDIC interpretation.
Monitors for changes and recommendations; implementing updates to procedures, policies and practices as needed.
Enhances the Bank’s CRA plan to ensure established goals and objectives are met for the institution and within each state and MSA that the Bank conducts business in.
Works in partnership with appropriate senior managers and departments to design programs to meet the credit and housing needs within the Bank’s service area.
Assists in the assessment of existing products and development of new products, especially products that are innovative and flexible, to ensure the Bank’s lending programs, deposit products and other financial services address its responsibilities under the CRA.
Coordinates with federal and/or state regulatory agency examiners during CRA examinations.
Gathers data as requested.
Coordinates with internal audit to ensure that compliance issues are addressed adequately and timely.
Chair the CRA Committee.
Prepares reports, including a semi-annual self-assessment, for the CRA Committee detailing the Bank’s performance and effectiveness when measured against the Bank’s established CRA program goals and regulatory expectations.
Maintains the CRA Public File as required and respond to inquiries in a timely manner.
Partners with various departments and Training & Development to ensure employees are educated on the CRA regulations and their responsibilities.
Participates in finding opportunities to increase the Bank’s CRA qualified Investments; coordinate with Finance and Credit Admin to ensure investments meet safe and sound opportunities.
Recommend new opportunities to CRA Committee.
Monitor ongoing value of CRA investments.
Works with the Director of Community Giving to maximize CRA eligibility of donations and sponsorships.
Review each donation within internal tracking systems and mark eligibility.
Actively works to monitor and encourage CRA-eligible volunteer activities throughout the Bank’s footprint.
Set a positive example by volunteering on various boards and committees.
Reviews and marks all volunteer activities for CRA eligibility.
Seeks out and engages with community organizations that the Bank can partner with to meet CRA goals and objectives.
Creates Financial Literacy programs that staff can use to deliver to various employers, non-profits, schools and others.
Assists in preparing the annual Fair Lending Analysis report.
Works with consumer and commercial lending departments on strategies to improve performance.
Member of the Bank’s ESG committee.
Provides data for annual report as requested.
Perform other duties as requested.