WECU is seeking a Real Estate Loan Underwriter to join our Home Loan Center in Bellingham, WA. In this role you will strive to deliver a quality member experience through efficient, knowledgeable, and timely residential mortgage underwriting. Act as a centralized underwriter and resource for the real estate loan staff. Review and render decisions on loan requests including but not limited to the following: home equity, land, manufactured home loans, construction financing, and first mortgages and other conventional and government financing. Loan decision must be in compliance with WECU procedures and guidelines, agency, secondary market guidelines and compliance with Washington State law.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Review initial application packets for conditional approval before returning to a Real Estate Loan Processor.
• Communicate relevant product, service, and policy information to staff.
• Ensure accuracy of income, asset and liability figures listed by the applicant by reconciling all income documents including tax returns, asset statements and credit reports to the application.
• Ensure that all loans are underwritten, documented, and priced to meet WECU, agency, or investor guidelines. Underwriting review is inclusive of fraud detection and guidelines.
• Review loan to ensure all approval conditions have been satisfied, documents are complete, and loan information is properly processed into the computer before signing takes place.
• Remain current on changes within the legal, regulatory, economic, competitive and technology environment that may affect real estate lending functions.
• Keep current on secondary market guidelines using appropriate resources and research.
• Assist with training new real estate employees and employees coming for cross-training
• Keep informed about credit union history, philosophy and changes to organizational policies and procedures by participating in staff and operational meetings.
• Review subordination and partial release requests and recommend decision.
• Suggest new products and services to Underwriting Supervisor and Real Estate Loan Production Manager and assist in the implementation.
• Review real estate policies and procedures. Assist in keeping the Real Estate Loan Manual on the Intranet current.
• Ensure the confidentiality and security of all real estate loans.
• Follows policy and procedures related to Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Customer Identification Program (CIP) and Customer Due Diligence (CDD) daily to ensure compliance with current regulations.
• Follow policy and procedures related to SARs by monitoring and reporting suspicious activity to the Compliance department. Notify immediate supervisor of any substantive discrepancies with respect to information obtained under the CIP, including fraudulent identification, fraudulent applications, etc.
• Complete mandatory BSI and other assigned annual training via online web course to include BSA/AML annual training.
• Perform specific and delegated duties as assigned by management.
• Help build relationships by promoting the Credit Union both internally and externally.
• Follows WECU’s policies and all applicable laws and regulations.
• Performs other duties as assigned and may also assist others to complete tasks and work assignments.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Excellent organizational, reasoning, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Minimum 2+ years underwriting experience or 4 years of experience in a related field with equal responsibilities is acceptable.
• Familiarity with mortgage products and underwriting procedures.
• Familiarity with federal and state guidelines.
• Working knowledge of the credit union’s products and services.
• Working knowledge of organization’s policies/procedures and credit union’s service philosophy.
• Working knowledge of safety and security program for false alarms, robberies, bomb threats and extortion.
• Working knowledge of credit union’s in-house computer system and real estate loan processing system.
• Knowledge of state and federal lending regulations.
• Ability to exercise judgment, initiative, and tact in dealing with members, management, and staff.
• Ability to represent the credit union in a positive, professional manner in person, on the telephone, and in written correspondence.

COMPENSATION:

The salary range for this position is from $34.21 to $48.30 per hour.

WECU provides a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision benefits with premiums for employee coverage paid in full, 401(k) retirement plan with an 8% annual contribution from WECU, bonus plan, two or more weeks of vacation, up to 11 paid holidays, paid life and disability insurance, annual wellness benefit, loan discounts, professional development, and much more.

ABOUT WECU:

WECU is a not-for-profit financial cooperative where members are encouraged to save and borrow responsibly at fair and competitive rates. Headquartered in Bellingham, WA, WECU has over 160,000 members and over $3 billion dollars in assets.

It is WECU's mission to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our members. We strive to treat both members and staff with honesty and integrity and to be a socially responsible part of our community. WECU also endeavors to be an employer of choice.

WECU is an Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We make employment decisions based on merit and qualifications and seek to have the best qualified person in every job. WECU policy prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, national origin, or ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic characteristics or information, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.

WECU participates in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all new hires.