Chief Credit Officer

Company Overview 

At Community State Bank, we are proud to be an independent, locally managed bank committed to enriching lives and elevating communities. Our vision is to be the preferred financial partner in every market we serve, and we live this out through our core values, F.A.I.R Friendly, Accountable, Innovative, and Respectful. We believe in empowering our employees to make meaningful contributions, both inside the workplace and out in the community. 

General Responsibilities

The Chief Credit Officer (CCO) is a senior executive responsible for establishing and overseeing the organization’s credit risk strategy, policies, and practices. The CCO safeguards asset quality, ensures sound credit decision making, and balances growth objectives with prudent risk management. This role provides executive leadership across credit administration, underwriting, portfolio management, and regulatory compliance.

Essential Duties

              Responsible for establishing and overseeing the organization’s credit risk strategy, policies, and practices of which the following are illustrative:

        Credit Strategy & Governance

• Develop, implement, and maintain the organization’s overall credit risk strategy in alignment with business objectives and risk appetite. 
• Establish and enforce credit policies, underwriting standards, risk rating methodologies, and approval authorities across all lending products. 
• Provide executive leadership and independent credit oversight to ensure consistent application of credit standards. 
• Serve as a primary advisor to the CEO, executive leadership team, and Board on credit risk matters, trends, and emerging risks.

Underwriting & Portfolio Management

• Oversee credit underwriting, approval, monitoring, and review processes throughout the credit lifecycle.
• Ensure portfolio diversification, appropriate concentration limits, and effective risk monitoring practices.
• Review portfolio performance metrics, industry and borrower trends, and credit migration.
• Direct proactive risk mitigation strategies to address emerging portfolio weaknesses.

Problem Loan Management, Workouts & Exits

• Develop and oversee enterprise wide strategies for the early identification, management, and resolution of problem loans and criticized assets.
• Establish standards for watch list management, risk rating changes, and timely transfer of deteriorating credits to work out or special assets processes when appropriate.
• Provide executive oversight of workout, restructuring, forbearance, and exit strategies to maximize recoveries while minimizing losses.
• Review and approve significant workout plans, restructurings, exits, charge offs, and loan sales within established authority levels.
• Monitor nonperforming and classified assets to ensure timely resolution, policy compliance, and alignment with regulatory guidance.
• Partner with Legal, Finance, and line of business leaders to execute disciplined and well documented problem loan resolutions.

Risk Management, Allowance & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and supervisory guidance related to credit risk.
• Provide oversight of credit risk modeling, stress testing, and scenario analysis.
• Provide oversight to the preparation of the current expected credit losses (CECL) methodology, assumptions, and governance in coordination with Finance and Risk.
• Engage with regulators and external auditors on credit related matters and examination findings.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop credit administration, underwriting, and credit risk teams.
• Promote a strong credit culture emphasizing accountability, sound judgment, and risk awareness.
• Build scalable processes and leadership depth to support organizational growth and continuity.

Reporting & Board Communication

• Prepare and present comprehensive credit risk and problem asset reports to executive management and the Board of Directors or Board committees.
• Communicate credit quality trends, portfolio risks, problem loan exposure, and resolution progress clearly and proactively.
• Ensure transparency and timely escalation of material credit concerns.

Abides by the current laws and organizational policies and procedures designed and implemented to promote an environment which is free of harassment and other forms of illegal discriminatory behavior in the workplace.

Directly supervises assigned management and support personnel as follows:

• Assist in the selection of new personnel as appropriate.
• Reviews employee performance throughout the probationary period and on a regularly scheduled basis thereafter.
• Make provisions for the proper orientation, training, and development of all personnel.
• Trains new personnel as required.
• Coaches and mentors staff as needed; upholds CSB culture and values.
• Organizes, schedules and distributes work among assigned personnel.
• Keeps personnel informed of pertinent policies and procedures affecting management and/or their jobs; creates an atmosphere in which upward communication from employees is encouraged. 
• Administers personnel policies and procedures as established by Bank policy.

     Communicates with the Chief Executive Officer, President, other department managers, and appropriate staff personnel to integrate objectives and activities.

Responds to inquiries relating to his/her area, or to requests from customers, other bank personnel, etc., within given timeframes and within established policy.

Provides periodic reports to the Chief Executive Officer, President, and other groups as required throughout the Bank.

Actively participates in the senior management team and attends committee meetings as required.

As part of our commitment to serving the local market, team members are encouraged to actively participate in bank-sponsored community events and volunteer initiatives. 

Basic Qualifications

Education/Training: A B.S. or B.A. degree in finance, accounting, economics, business or a related field required: master’s degree preferred; specialized bank credit and lending education and training.

Skill(s): Proficient reading, writing, grammar, and mathematics skills; deep understanding of credit analysis, underwriting, risk rating systems, and portfolio management; strong knowledge of regulatory requirements and industry best practices related to credit risk; demonstrated ability to balance growth, profitability, and risk; excellent analytical, judgment, and problem solving skills; exceptional communication and executive presentation abilities; strategic thinking; leadership and team development; risk assessment and mitigation; regulatory awareness and integrity; collaboration and influence at the executive level.

Experience: A minimum of ten (10) years’ experience in related positions is normally required. Prior senior leadership experience in a highly regulated or risk driven environment preferred.