The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is a seasoned agricultural lender with strong credit judgment,
relationship depth, and a practical understanding of farming operations in central
Illinois. This person knows how to sit across the kitchen table with a producer,
understand the operation, and bring that same clarity and confidence into loan
committee.
A successful candidate will bring at least seven years of professional ag lending
experience at a bank, Farm Credit institution, or comparable financial institution. They
will have a demonstrated track record of managing a healthy, well-documented ag loan
portfolio, with credit quality and process discipline valued more than origination
volume alone.
Just as important, this leader will bring integrity, humility, and a service mindset. They
should be comfortable with modern lending tools, including AI-assisted underwriting,
digital documentation, cash flow modeling, and data-driven portfolio analytics, while
maintaining the human judgment and relationship focus that community banking
requires.
Key Responsibilities
- Agricultural portfolio management: Manage, underwrite, and structure a portfolio of agricultural loans, including operating lines, machinery and equipment, livestock, and farm real estate, with a focus on credit quality and sound documentation.
- Credit process and documentation: Establish industry-standard ag loan procedures and documentation standards for FNBL, including underwriting templates, financial spreading, borrowing base calculations, annual review processes, and documentation checklists.
- Modern lending tools: Champion the adoption of modern tools, including AI assisted underwriting, cash flow modeling, digital documentation, and portfolio monitoring, to elevate the quality and efficiency of FNBL’s ag lending program.
- Borrower relationships: Maintain and deepen long-term relationships with existing farm operators, producers, and agribusinesses in the portfolio.
- On-farm engagement: Stay close to the land through on-farm visits, on-site annual reviews, and active presence in the agricultural community.
- Financial analysis: Analyze farm financials, tax returns, cash flow projections, and production budgets; structure credits that fit each operation.
- Loan committee leadership: Present credits to loan committee with clarity, confidence, and well-supported credit recommendations.
- Portfolio monitoring: Monitor portfolio quality, annual reviews, covenant compliance, and emerging credit issues, catching problems early and managing them proactively.
- Mentorship: Mentor junior lenders and credit analysts on ag-specific credit analysis, borrower conversations, documentation standards, and portfolio discipline.
- Community representation: Represent FNBL with integrity in the agricultural community the bank has served since 1864.
- Other duties: Perform other related duties as assigned in support of the lending team and the bank’s long-term agricultural lending strategy.
Qualifications
Required Experience
- 7+ years of professional agricultural lending experience at a bank, Farm Credit institution, or comparable financial institution.
- Demonstrated track record of managing a healthy, well-documented ag loan portfolio, with credit quality and process discipline as core strengths.
- Deep knowledge of operating lines, machinery and equipment financing, livestock lending, and farm real estate.
- Working knowledge of FSA guaranteed loans, Farmer Mac, crop insurance, and USDA farm programs.
- Experience operating under, and ideally helping to build, formal ag lending procedures and documentation standards.
- Strong credit judgment and the ability to make sound decisions while maintaining discipline across an existing book of business.
- Comfort with, and ideally enthusiasm for, modern lending tools, including AI assisted underwriting, digital document management, and data-driven portfolio analytics.
- Established relationships in central Illinois agriculture, or the demonstrated ability to earn trust with existing borrowers quickly.
- Communication skills that work at a kitchen table and in a loan committee.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience; valid driver’s license.
Preferred Experience
- Personal background in agriculture.
- Experience with multi-generational farm operations or large producer relationships.
- Active involvement with Illinois Farm Bureau, commodity associations, or similar organizations.
- Completion of ag lending programs such as ABA Agricultural Banking School or GSB Agricultural Lending School.
- Experience mentoring or leading an agricultural lending team.
Key Success Metrics
- Portfolio quality, risk management, and sound documentation standards.
- Completion and consistency of annual reviews, borrowing base updates, covenant monitoring, and proactive credit issue management.
- Successful implementation of ag lending procedures, templates, checklists, and portfolio reporting.
- Effective use of modern underwriting, digital documentation, cash flow modeling, and portfolio analytics tools.
- Strength and continuity of borrower relationships across existing farm operators, producers, and agribusinesses.
- Clear, well-supported credit presentations and thoughtful loan committee participation.
- Meaningful mentoring of junior lenders and credit analysts.
- Visible presence in the agricultural community and trusted representation of FNBL.
- Contribution to FNBL’s long-term agricultural lending strategy and bank stability.
Additional Expectations
- Be based in or near Lacon, Peoria, or a neighboring central Illinois community and work in-office in Lacon.
- Travel regularly to farms, borrower locations, agricultural events, and community meetings as relationship and portfolio needs require.
- Remain visible and accessible to borrowers, the Bank President, lending colleagues, and business partners.
- Handle confidential and sensitive business matters with discretion, sound judgment, and professionalism.
- Lead with integrity, accountability, service, stewardship, and respect for the agricultural community FNBL serves.
- Maintain compliance with bank policies, regulatory requirements, and internal controls across all lending activities.
About Lacon, Illinois
Lacon, Illinois offers a compelling home base for an agricultural banking leader who
values community, relationships, and quality of life. Located on the east bank of the
Illinois River and serving as the county seat of Marshall County, Lacon combines
scenic river views, a historic downtown, and a small-town pace with convenient access
to the broader Greater Peoria region.
For candidates relocating to the area, Lacon and nearby communities such as Peoria,
Chillicothe, Metamora, Washington, Henry, Sparland, and Dunlap provide a range of
lifestyle options—from rural acreage and river-town living to suburban
neighborhoods with broader regional amenities. Residents enjoy local restaurants
and shops, parks, the Lacon Marina, Timber Ridge Golf Club, disc golf, farmers
markets, the Marshall County Old Settlers celebration, and access to outdoor
recreation throughout the Illinois River Valley, including Marshall State Fish & Wildlife
Area and nearby state park destinations.
For an agricultural lender, the area offers the best of both worlds: close proximity to
farm operators and agribusiness relationships, plus access to the healthcare, schools,
cultural amenities, restaurants, and business resources of Greater Peoria. It is a
practical, connected, and welcoming place to build relationships, serve the
agricultural community, and put down roots.
Learn more about the area: City of Lacon | Things to Do in Lacon| Greater Peoria EDC
Pay: $125,000.00 - $175,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
