Loan Origination Officer

JOB DESCRIPTION:                                 

C3bank, N.A. is a premier business and commercial real estate bank headquartered in Encinitas, CA with over $900 million in assets with offices throughout Southern California and Nashville. We are seeking a Loan Origination Officer, Commercial Lending in Nashville market to support continued growth and credit team expansion. Our culture is built on a foundation of customer service as we Connect stories, Create the future, and Cultivate relationships. Internally our employees strive to support our customers through a high degree of integrity, strong work ethic, knowledge of bank products and services while working as a team and promoting togetherness and a supportive culture.

ROLE SUMMARY:  

The Loan Origination Officer will identify and assist in structuring new commercial lending opportunities across CRE, C&I, and construction loans within the Nashville MSA. The role combines business development with front-end credit analysis, working closely with underwriting and executive management to deliver tailored credit solutions. The ideal candidate is a self-starter with 3–5 years in commercial lending or underwriting, formal credit training, with strong market knowledge. Must demonstrate both analytical rigor and customer engagement skills.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Business Development & Relationship Management

• Proactively source and originate new commercial loan opportunities across CRE, C&I, and construction lending within Nashville and surrounding markets.
• Build and maintain relationships with real estate brokers, mortgage and debt brokers, developers, investors, and other centers of influence to generate new business.
• Represent the bank in community, industry, and civic organizations to strengthen brand visibility and enhance business development efforts.
• Collaborate with senior management and other relationship managers to cross-sell bank products and retain existing client relationships.

Deal Structuring & Preliminary Underwriting

• Conduct initial deal screening to determine credit feasibility, borrower suitability, and alignment with bank strategy.
• Develop preliminary loan structures and pricing recommendations based on borrower strength, collateral, and market comparables.
• Prepare internal prescreen or opportunity memos for presentation to preliminary loan committee and senior credit officers.
• Perform market research and data gathering (CoStar, local brokers, comparable transactions) to validate underwriting assumptions and proforma inputs.

Financial & Credit Analysis

• Build and maintain detailed proforma cash flow models and sensitivity analyses to evaluate deal performance under varying assumptions.
• Identify and articulate key credit risks and mitigants in support of underwriting and loan committee materials.
• Review and interpret key third-party reports (appraisals, environmental, engineering, and credit reports) to ensure sound collateral and regulatory compliance.
• Analyze borrower and guarantor financial statements, tax returns, and projections to assess repayment capacity and creditworthiness.
• Assign preliminary regulatory risk ratings and assist in ensuring accurate data communication within the origination, underwriting, and credit systems.

Transaction Execution & Coordination

• Manage active deal pipeline in coordination with credit administration and underwriting teams to ensure efficient processing and timely closings.
• Draft and coordinate Letters of Intent (LOIs) and term sheets for new opportunities.
• Assist in developing “Needs Lists” and organize kickoff calls for new transactions to ensure all documentation and due diligence items are addressed early.
• Participate in borrower and property site visits and assist in loan closings alongside underwriting and documentation teams.
• Maintain accurate loan data and notes within origination software and CRM systems.

Collaboration, Compliance & Continuous Improvement

• Partner with the underwriting, portfolio management, and loan servicing teams to ensure seamless handoff from origination through closing.
• Monitor ongoing loan and portfolio performance; escalate any credit concerns promptly to management.
• Ensure full compliance with all bank policies, regulatory guidelines, and internal credit procedures.
• Participate in special projects, system improvements, and process enhancements as assigned by management. 
• Demonstrate strong teamwork, communication, and professional integrity in all interactions.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in finance, business, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in commercial real estate, C&I, or SBA lending — with formal credit or cash flow training preferred.
• Customer service experience and the ability to monitor a portfolio of accounts.
• Excellent relationship management and communication skills; proven ability to build credibility with clients and referral partners while maintaining client confidentiality.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) and experience with credit and CRM software.
• Familiarity with CoStar, Moody’s, or Bukers a plus; FISERV experience preferred.
• In office attendance in Nashville (Gulch) is required.
• Team-oriented, self-motivated, and eager to contribute to a growing institution.

Seniority Level

• Mid-Level

Employment Type

• Full-time

Job Functions

• Commercial Real Estate Lending
• Construction Loans
• Loan Origination
• Credit Analysis / Underwriting
• C&I Lending