Job Description

Job Location: Tuscaloosa Main Office - Tuscaloosa, AL 35406Education Level: 4 Year Degree

Job Category: BankingJob Title: Credit Underwriter

Position Summary

The Credit Underwriter will be responsible for evaluating loan applications, assessing credit risk, and making informed lending decisions in accordance with the bank's policies, regulatory requirements, and risk tolerance. This role involves analyzing financial statements, credit reports, and collateral to ensure that lending decisions align with the bank’s standards. The Credit Underwriter will collaborate with relationship managers and other departments to ensure smooth processing and mitigate risks while supporting the bank’s lending objectives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Loan Application Analysis:

Review and evaluate loan applications, financial statements, and credit reports to assess the credit risk of potential borrowers and determine their eligibility for credit.

• Credit Risk Assessment:

Conduct thorough assessments of borrower creditworthiness, using financial ratios, historical data, and qualitative information to ensure accurate lending decisions.

• Collateral Evaluation:

Assess the adequacy and value of collateral to determine appropriate loan structures, ensuring that risk exposure is minimized.

• Loan Approval Recommendations:

Prepare well-documented credit memos with detailed assessments, presenting clear recommendations for loan approvals or rejections to management.

• Policy and Compliance Adherence:

Ensure all credit decisions comply with the bank’s internal lending policies, procedures, and relevant regulatory requirements.

• Collaboration with Internal Teams:

Work closely with relationship managers, loan officers, and other departments to collect necessary information, discuss loan proposals, and resolve issues.

• Risk Mitigation:

Identify emerging risks in lending and recommend proactive measures to minimize potential losses.

• Industry Awareness & Market Trends:

Stay up-to-date on market conditions, economic trends, and regulatory changes affecting lending and underwriting processes.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Strong understanding of financial statements, financial modeling, and credit analysis techniques.
• Proven experience in credit analysis or underwriting within a banking environment.
• Familiarity with banking regulations and compliance requirements.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and financial analysis software.
• Attention to detail, with the ability to work under pressure.

Competencies

• Accountability: Willing to claim ownership for results of actions that were executed personally; Meets personal and organizational obligations associated with serving customers and utilizing resources; Performs duties and position without requiring guidance.
• Collaboration: Cooperates with others to establish priorities and develop work plans; Cooperates with team members to complete tasks assigned to the team; consistently contributes to group discussions and shares information.
• Customer Service: Establishes cooperative working relationships with others internal and external to the organization; Resolves fairly complex or non-routine problems, questions, or complaints; directs the most complex problems, questions, or complaints to the appropriate person; effectively handles situations with moderate degree of tension, conflict and/or distress.
• Decision-Making: Exercises good judgment in situations when data is limited and the solution may be unclear; Makes appropriate decisions in given time restraints; demonstrates the ability to weigh factors and perceive impacts and implications of personal decisions in situations.
• Organizational Awareness: Understands the mission and functions of the organization; Demonstrates in-depth knowledge of organizational policies, procedures, rules, regulations impacting the organization, and guidelines; Educates others on organizational programs and policies; Aware of the key stakeholders, decision-makers, and power dynamics within the organization.
• Self-Management: Sets goals and priorities for own work consistent with goals of the organization and accommodates unforeseen workload; Applies effort and persistence toward the achievement of goals; willingly accepts new or additional responsibilities.QualificationsEducation and Experience:

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field and 1-2 years of related experience required.

Preferred

• 3-5 years of experience in credit analysis or underwriting within a banking environment preferred.
• Certification in Credit Risk (e.g., CRISC, FRM) or similar professional certifications.
• Experience working with loan products or in specialized industries such as real estate, manufacturing, etc.