Commercial Loan Specialist (CRE & C&I)
Department: Commercial Loan Department
Reports To: Commercial Loan Manager
Supervises: None
FLSA Status: Exempt
Status: Full Time, Regular
Officer: Yes
Location: Evansville Region *Incumbent may be assigned and re-located to a branch within the Region as staffing and business initiatives dictate.
Hours: Monday through Friday 8am – 5pm *Over-time may be required if business and staffing needs dictate.
First Federal was established on Evansville, Indiana’s Westside in 1904 and is a community bank currently serving communities in the tri-state area with several branch locations in Posey, Vanderburgh, Henderson, Warrick, Daviess and Pike Counties.
Full-time employees of First Federal are offered a comprehensive benefit package including Paid Time Off, up to 11 paid Holidays, 401k, ESOP, company paid Disability and Life insurance and Health and Wellness Options including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life and Supplemental Insurance. Our Part-time employees are eligible for up to 11 paid Holidays and can choose to enroll in Dental, Vision and Supplemental Insurance, and participate in clinic healthcare services.
Aside from that, all employees can expect to receive discounted bank services such as free checks, discounts on loans, waived processing fees and much more.
Diversity and Inclusion
First Federal is committed to creating an inclusive work environment where business results are achieved through the skills, abilities and talents of our diverse workforce.
At First Federal, individuals are respected for their contributions toward our company objectives. We strive for an inclusive work environment across all levels that is reflective of the available workforce in the communities we serve.
Position Summary
The Commercial Loan Specialist is responsible for coordinating and managing the loan fulfillment process for Commercial Real Estate (CRE), Small Business Administration (SBA), and Commercial & Industrial (C&I) loan transactions. The role performs analytical, and operational work directly related to First Federal Saving Bank’s credit, compliance, and lending operations, exercising independent judgment in determining documentation sufficiency, resolving exceptions, sequencing closing steps, and ensuring regulatory and policy compliance.
Education and Experience Requirements
- Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting or related field preferred.
- Three (3) plus years of experience in commercial lending support, credit administration, or loan operations (CRE, SBA, or C&I).
- Working knowledge of bank regulatory expectations required.
- Experience working with nCino and Cleartouch is preferred but not required.
- Professional development coursework or pursuit of credit-related certifications encouraged.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Credit & Documentation Oversight
- Evaluate borrower, guarantor, and collateral documentation for adequacy, completeness, and compliance with credit approval conditions and regulatory requirements—not merely collecting documents but determining which items satisfy conditions.
- Analyze CRE, SBA, and C&I loan structures to identify appropriate third-party reports (appraisal, environmental, survey, UCC filings, insurance, etc.) and determine which reports are required for compliance based on loan purpose and collateral type.
- Conduct preliminary review of third-party documentation results to identify material issues requiring underwriting or legal review, exercising discretion on when escalation is needed.
Loan Workflow Management
· Prioritize and sequence tasks across multiple loan files, independently determining closing timelines, documentation order, and resolution of outstanding conditions.
- Determine most effective approaches to clear documentation exceptions, cure title issues, reconcile policy discrepancies, and address underwriting stipulations.
- Evaluate borrower-provided information to identify deficiencies, request appropriate alternatives, and recommend corrective actions to lenders and credit.
SBA-Specific Responsibilities
· Interpret SBA Standard Operating Procedures to determine eligibility, required documentation, and closing conditions for 7(a) and 504 loans.
- Assess completeness of SBA form packages (1919, 1920) and evaluate whether borrower submissions meet SBA compliance requirements before submitting for approval.
- Identify and resolve SBA exceptions in consultation with lenders and underwriters, exercising discretion in determining acceptable documentation substitutes.
CRE-Specific Responsibilities
· Review CRE rent rolls, operating statements, construction budgets, and third-party reports to determine their adequacy for underwriting and closing.
- Identify issues in appraisals, environmental reports, or surveys requiring escalation, interpreting findings rather than solely processing them.
C&I-Specific Administrative Responsibilities
· Review borrowing bases, A/R and A/P aging, inventory reports, and equipment lists to determine adequacy for credit monitoring and collateral evaluation.
- Exercise discretion in identifying discrepancies or red flags requiring lender or credit analyst attention.
Compliance & Risk Management
· Ensure all loan actions align with bank policies, credit approval requirements, regulatory guidelines, and SBA SOP requirements.
- Analyze KYC/beneficial ownership documents and determine whether submissions meet regulatory standards.
- Prepare files for internal audit, external audit, and SBA reviews by applying judgment in determining whether files meet exam standards.
Cross-Functional Relationship Management
· Serve as a key liaison among lenders, underwriters, operations, legal counsel, title companies, and third-party vendors.
- Provide interpretive guidance to lenders and clients on documentation, closing requirements, and regulatory expectations.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
· Ability to interpret credit policy, underwriting conditions, SBA SOP rules, and regulatory requirements.
- Strong analytical judgment for evaluating document adequacy and identifying issues requiring escalation.
- Ability to manage complex processes with autonomy, independent prioritization, and discretion.
- Advanced communication skills to advise internal stakeholders and borrowers on compliance, documentation, and process issues.
Competencies Necessary To Be Successful In This Position
· Customer Focus (internal and/or external): Always act with the customer in mind. Dedicated to meeting the customer’s needs and expectations. Works with the customer to understand and uncover their issues and/or needs. Interact with customers in a courteous, professional and knowledgeable manner. Gains customer’s trust and respect by establishing and maintaining relationships. Conduct all company transactions and interactions in an honest, professional and ethical manner. Remains composed and do not become defensive or show irritation when confronted with disgruntled customers. Cultivates a customer focused attitude.
· Job Knowledge: Understanding and proven experience of job responsibilities. Ability to make sound decisions drawing on knowledge and experience. Capable of analyzing and resolving customer or work-related issues. Perceived by customers and co-workers as a skilled problem solver, knowledgeable, and a valuable business resource. Mentors’ others on how to exhibit functional knowledge and skills. Initiative exhibited with growing own knowledge, skills and leadership. Understanding of current bank technology and initiative in learning new bank technology.
· Accountability: Understands objectives, priorities, and critical performance measures required to meet customer and company goals. Stays abreast of own performance and manages performance to achieve expected results. Keeps management informed of progress, issues and potential roadblocks in reaching goals. Actively seeks out feedback on own performance from customers, peers, and company management to identify and address areas of individual weakness that may affect department and company performance.
· Decision Quality: Demonstrates good judgement. Make timely, effective decisions without avoidance. Makes use of analysis, wisdom, experience and judgement. Has a track record of good sound decisions. Can cope with change and shift gears comfortably. Does not become agitated when aspects of a situation are unclear and need to be researched further or looked to another for direction.
· Results Focused: Demonstrates creativity in building new opportunities and expanding relationships. Approaches every business encounter as a possible opportunity but never sacrifices integrity, professionalism or company reputation. Results oriented; demonstrates the ability to adapt behavior to overcome obstacles needed to achieve expected results. Remains current in understanding the retail market and local competitor’s strategies, offerings and differentiating characteristics. Cultivates multiple contacts within both internally and externally. Ability to command others’ attention.
- Integrity: Widely trusted as a direct, honest person who can present the truth in an appropriate and helpful manner. Keeps confidences and owns up to mistakes. Consistently act with a high degree of professionalism and ethics. Keeps commitments. Conveys credibility, trustworthiness, and good judgment when making suggestions. Genuinely concerned for people, treating everyone with dignity and respect. Always a professional, representing the company in the best possible manner in speech, dress, and conduct.
Initiative: Demonstrates initiative by looking for and suggesting solutions to problems without coaxing. A self-starter continually looking for ways to improve his/her effectiveness. Proactively involves appropriate individuals to resolve issues in a timely manner. Ability to work with minimum supervision or direction. Willingness to seek out and take responsibility for additional work assignments. Resist getting stale; committed to personal and professional development; self-directed in pursuit of resources that assist continuous learning. Supports innovation and organizational improvement initiatives. Works to implement organizational change. Acts as a champion for change by encouraging peers to embrace change initiative.
· Quality/Quantity of Work: Manages priorities and spend time on the most important issues a hand. Eliminates roadblocks and distractions; remains focused. Adapts priorities to changing circumstances. Produces acceptable amount of work within established time limits. Maintains a high quality of work as quantity increases. No unnecessary, repetitious, and/or unacceptable levels of errors with work. Produces and maintains required, compliant and accurate work. Is thorough in review of their work. Looks for ways to continually improve productivity. Adjust workflows and prioritizes tasks. Is resourceful in resolving issues.
· Adherence to Policies & Procedures: Demonstrates positive commitment to company’s goals, initiatives, policies and procedures through communication and actions. Complaint with maintaining customers, company and employees’ confidential information. Uses good judgement in seeking guidance on a company policy or procedure. Honesty and integrity in handling all company, customer and employee related issues.
- Interpersonal Relationship: Ability to communicate clearly, accurately, concisely, and compelling to diverse personalities, on all levels, in both verbal and written communication. Ability to adapt communication methods based on situations and personalities. Ability to present to customers, co-workers and management with poise, authority, and clarity and to respond appropriately to questions, objections, or challenges. Strives to understand others’ issues, opinions, and needs. Works to establish lasting professional relationships and earn the respect and trust of customers, co-workers and management. Meets commitments and follows through as expected. Resolves conflicts with others in a respectful, responsible and constructive manner. Shares thoughts, feelings, and rationale so that others understand your position. Remains composed and does not become defensive and/or irritated when confronted with adversity. Is receptive to and implements suggestions for improvement. Demonstration of commitment to the directive of the organization by actively and positively supporting management decisions.
- Leadership: Ability to make tough decision and take decisive action based on obtaining facts, alternatives and risks. Ability to plan and implement a project to its desired outcome within the expectable timetable and with the required results. Demonstrates a strong sense of and works within a strong boundary of respect, integrity, maturity, responsibility, and ethics in all actions.
ADA REQUIREMENTS: Work is performed in a professional office environment. Role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, copiers, scanners, printers, filing cabinets, and fax machines. Sitting for long periods of time; May be required to lift items weighing up to 25-lbs. Would require the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets and bend or stand as necessary. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY POLICY: First Federal Savings Bank is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
- This job description may not be all-inclusive. Employees are expected to perform other duties as assigned or directed by management. Job descriptions will be reviewed and may be modified when deemed appropriate by management. As business needs and staffing needs change, all positions at First Federal Savings Bank/Home Building Savings Bank are reviewed. Employee may be moved for business purposes to sustain business and staffing demands.
