Senior Loan Officer

Company Description

First South Farm Credit is a member-owned financial cooperative that has been financing rural America since 1916. With more than a century of specialized agricultural and rural lending experience, the organization serves farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses, and rural homeowners. The cooperative model allows borrowers to be stakeholders, creating a customer-focused culture grounded in long-term relationships and local decision-making. First South Farm Credit offers competitive financial products, personalized service, and deep knowledge of rural communities to support growth and stability for its customers.

Role Description

The Senior Loan Officer is a full-time, on-site role based in Birmingham, AL, responsible for serving present and prospective members/customers with sound and productive short, intermediate and long term agricultural credit according to district policies. This role includes developing and maintaining relationships with existing and prospective customers, assessing creditworthiness, analyzing financial statements, and preparing loan recommendations in line with lending policies. The Senior Loan Officer will conduct farm and property visits, gather and verify borrower information, and collaborate with underwriting and credit teams to structure sound loan packages. Daily responsibilities also involve monitoring loan performance, ensuring regulatory and policy compliance, providing responsive customer service, and contributing to business development efforts in the local market.

Duties

• Develops new business by actively pursuing new individual and business customers and by becoming a visible and involved member of the community.
• Expands existing relationships by proactively researching customer needs and matching bank products and services to those needs.
• Interviews applicants, gathers, analyzes and reconciles complete, accurate credit and financial data using the five credit factors under the guidelines of differential analysis.
• Determines credit risk and makes timely and accurate decisions.
• Establishes and renegotiates credit terms, when necessary.
• Inspects or appraises collateral as needed or applicable.
• Communicates credit decision to loan applicants.
• Services loans in portfolio to retain high loan level quality.
• Reviews progress of loans on a periodic basis.
• Makes periodic calls on loan customers to evaluate management, inspect collateral and detect signs of potential financial problems.
• Monitors delinquent reports and counsels with customers to bring accounts current.
• Provides guidance to customers seeking solutions to financial problems.
• Follows market trends and developments to increase association’s business in established and developing markets.
• Keeps in formed of competition and their markets, primary products and services, major strengths and limitations, and their basic pricing arrangements.
• Provides information to existing and potential members/borrowers as to available financially related services and properly handles financial service accounts.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Education and/or experience equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Agriculture, Economics or Finance.
• Three years or related agricultural lending experience.
• Demonstrated computer proficiency and familiarity with financial databases and spreadsheet applications.
• Excellent computer proficiency and familiarity with financial databases and spreadsheet applications.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to employ diplomacy and tact with customers and prospects while articulating the benefits of Farm Credit.
• Ability to be assertive and decisive in arriving at sound business decisions which serve the best interest of the ACA and the borrower.
• Current awareness of economic developments and production technology affecting agriculture in the region.
• Travel to/from other branch offices, associations, AgFirst or other facilities.

PROBLEM SOLVING AND DECISION‑MAKING:

• Deals with new applicants and repeat borrowers to include moderately complex loans and treatments.

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) 6% Match
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Opportunities for advancement
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance