Director, Practice Banking

Utah First Credit Union•Salt Lake City, UT

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director, Practice Banking is a founding role within Utah First Federal Credit Union's newly established Practice Banking vertical, a dedicated banking division designed to serve dental, medical, and other healthcare professionals throughout Utah. This individual will be responsible for building the Practice Banking program from the ground up: establishing referral networks, originating loans and deposits, developing the member experience, and helping to define the operational infrastructure that will support long-term vertical growth. This is a hybrid role combining meaningful personal production with program leadership. The Director is expected to carry a personal book of business while simultaneously building the systems, partnerships, and team that will define Utah First's presence in the professional practice lending market. As the vertical matures, this role will evolve into one with direct reports and broader organizational accountability. This position contributes directly to Utah First's mission: To be significant in the lives of our members, employees, and their communities.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in business, finance, or a related field required.
Seven or more years of experience in commercial banking, healthcare/professional practice lending, or practice management finance.
Demonstrated track record of building referral networks and originating loans in a professional services or healthcare market.
Experience at a bank, credit union, or specialty lender with a defined professional practice or healthcare lending program strongly preferred.
Experience in practice management consulting, dental/medical transitions, or healthcare finance also considered.
Prior experience building or launching a new program, vertical, or territory is highly valued.
Strong understanding of dental and medical practice economics, practice valuation, and professional lifecycle financing needs (start-up, acquisition, expansion, transition).
Solid credit underwriting skills with the ability to analyze practice cash flows, goodwill, and business performance.
Established or demonstrable network of referral relationships in Utah's dental and/or medical professional community.
Highly self-motivated, entrepreneurial, and comfortable operating in a build-phase environment without full infrastructure in place.
Excellent relationship management and consultative sales skills.
Strong communication and presentation skills across professional and executive audiences.
Working knowledge of commercial lending systems, CRM tools, and Microsoft Office applications.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree or relevant professional certifications a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead the launch and operational build-out of the Practice Banking vertical, translating strategic vision into a functional, scalable program.
Define target market segments, geographic focus, and ideal member profiles within dental, medical, and professional practice categories.
Develop and refine Practice Banking product offerings in collaboration with the SVP and internal partners, including practice acquisition loans, equipment financing, working capital lines, and professional deposit accounts.
Help to establish the workflows, underwriting criteria, onboarding processes, and service standards specific to the professional practice segment.
Create and maintain internal documentation including playbooks, training materials, and referral partner resources.
Collaborate with leadership and marketing to develop Practice Banking brand positioning, member-facing materials, and outreach campaigns.
Track program performance metrics and provide regular reporting to the SVP on pipeline, originations, member growth, and vertical KPIs.
Build and actively manage a referral network of dental and medical practice consultants, CPAs, attorneys, practice brokers, dental supply representatives, and other centers of influence in the Utah market.
Personally originate practice loans, equipment financing, and deposit relationships with dental and medical professionals.
Serve as a trusted advisor and primary point of contact for Practice Banking members, ensuring a differentiated, high-touch member experience.
Represent Utah First at dental and medical professional events, trade associations, continuing education conferences, and community engagements.
Develop strategic partnerships with dental and medical schools, professional associations (e.g., Utah Dental Association, Utah Medical Association), and transition/exit planning advisors.
Identify cross-sell opportunities across Utah First's broader product suite including personal banking, mortgage, and wealth services.
Underwrite or coordinate underwriting of practice acquisition, start-up, and equipment loans in accordance with Utah First credit policy and established Practice Banking underwriting guidelines.
Manage personal loan portfolio performance including credit quality, compliance, annual reviews, and member relationship health.
Partner with the VP of Credit on complex or out-of-policy credits requiring additional review or approval.
Monitor portfolio delinquency and proactively manage early-stage problem credits within the Practice Banking book.
Contribute to the ongoing development of Practice Banking credit policy and risk appetite parameters as the vertical matures.
Ensure all Practice Banking lending and deposit activities comply with applicable federal and state regulations and Utah First credit policies.
Maintain current knowledge of regulations and guidance applicable to professional practice lending.
Ensure appropriate documentation, due diligence, and member onboarding standards are followed for all Practice Banking relationships.
Support internal audit and regulatory examination readiness as it relates to the Practice Banking vertical.
This role launches as a solo position with a mandate to build. As the Practice Banking vertical grows, the Director will take on increasing organizational responsibility including recruiting and leading a dedicated team of Practice Banking Relationship Managers, Business Development Officers, and support staff.
Identify future staffing needs and contribute to workforce planning for the vertical.
Help define roles, performance expectations, and culture for the Practice Banking team as it scales.
Serve as a mentor and subject matter expert for junior team members as the division grows.