Credit Officer

BankWest • Pierre, SD

4h

About The Position

The Credit Officer works with Bank lending personnel and Credit Administration to support loan approvals and monitoring. The position evaluates the creditworthiness of current and prospective customers and makes credit decisions within authority approved by BankWest's Loan Committee. It also contributes to improvements in the credit department, staff training, reports, loan forms, and documentation. As backup to the Head of Credit, the Credit Officer provides timely decisions while adhering to BankWest loan policies, guidelines, standards, and applicable state and federal banking regulations.

The role supports credit quality and portfolio monitoring through review of credit requests, quality control of credit presentations, collaboration on loan structure and borrower risks, and clear guidance on required documentation. The Credit Officer also helps maintain credit policies and procedures, conducts semi-annual portfolio stress tests, monitors economic and market data, and provides market expertise relevant to BankWest's lending areas. The position may assist the Special Assets Department and take part in departmental projects, committees, training, and community involvement.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a related field; applicable experience and/or related certifications may be considered instead of a degree.
• 10 years of experience in agricultural or commercial lending.
• Experience in financial analysis, risk assessment, and underwriting.
• Ability to work independently and/or dependently, under pressure, meet deadlines, and adjust work schedules as needed.
• Ability to organize and handle multiple responsibilities while delivering quality service to internal and/or external customers.
• Excellent credit and financial analytical skills.
• Strong understanding of concepts involved in commercial and agricultural lending and credit analysis.
• Strong interpersonal skills and effective communication with internal and/or external customers.
• Knowledge of, or ability to learn, regulatory requirements relevant to the job.
• Knowledge of commercial and agricultural lending, including underwriting and analysis of financial statements, tax returns, and cash flows.
• Knowledge of strategic thinking, organizational leadership, and working with regulatory bodies.
• Knowledge of banking terminology and procedures, and BankWest products and services.
• Ability to use a variety of application software, learn computer programs, and understand program output.
• Adherence to Federal Privacy Standards and BankWest requirements for electronic communication and social engineering standards.
• Expected to participate directly or indirectly in increasing BankWest's presence in its markets, as appropriate.

Responsibilities

• Review and approve agricultural and commercial credit requests, as well as requests for home equity loans, cash management services, and consumer credit.
• Review and approve requests for charge-offs, non-accruals, and risk-rating changes.
• Preview and recommend requests for Loan Committee approval, with assistance from the CCO and Head of Credit as needed.
• Collaborate with lending staff on loan structure and identify potential issues related to borrowers' financial status.
• Support adherence to BankWest's Loan Policy and identify solutions that benefit the Bank.
• Apply delegated loan authority prudently to help maintain loan portfolio quality and provide guidance on required collateral, loan agreements, signatures, and other documentation.
• Perform credit quality control, including oversight of presentation details, customer credit quality, associated risks, and resolution of issues; request additional information and edits or content enhancements as needed.
• Enhance the credit process, support improved analysis quality, and help improve lending forms and related documentation.
• Assist in documenting and maintaining credit policies and procedures and ensure they are consistently followed, collaborating with the CCO and Head of Credit.
• Establish and maintain a loan portfolio stress-testing process, perform and document stress tests semi-annually, and report results.
• Acquire and maintain economic and market data reports to monitor markets, lending sectors, and state and national trends, including vacancy and absorption rates, unemployment, land prices, equipment auction values, and crop and livestock prices.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on market information relevant to BankWest's markets.
• Assist the Special Assets Department as requested by the CCO or Head of Credit.
• Provide relevant expertise and counsel in a leadership capacity.
• Work with departmental counterparts to plan and implement assigned projects and products.
• Participate on committees and project teams as assigned by management.
• Attend and actively participate in organization-specific and job-specific training and Quality Service programs.
• Follow BankWest policies and procedures and participate directly or indirectly in increasing the Bank's presence in its markets, as appropriate.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior