Why Join Washington Trust Bank as an SBA Loan Officer?
Are you passionate about helping small businesses achieve their goals? At Washington Trust Bank, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact by partnering with entrepreneurs, business owners, and commercial banking teams to deliver SBA financing solutions that drive growth, create jobs, and strengthen local communities.
As an SBA Preferred Lender, Washington Trust Bank offers the resources, reputation, and expertise needed to help you succeed. You'll work alongside an experienced SBA team, leverage a strong referral network, and provide customized financing solutions through SBA 7(a), SBA Express, and SBA 504 programs.
This role is ideal for a motivated, relationship-focused business developer who enjoys identifying opportunities, advising clients, structuring creative financing solutions, and serving as a trusted resource throughout the lending process.
What You'll Love About This Opportunity
- Build and grow a high-quality SBA lending portfolio across Washington Trust Bank's footprint.
- Partner with experienced commercial lenders and business banking teams who value SBA expertise.
- Help small businesses secure financing for acquisitions, real estate, equipment purchases, working capital, partner buyouts, and growth initiatives.
- Represent one of the region's most respected community banks and SBA Preferred Lenders.
- Enjoy the autonomy to develop business relationships while being supported by knowledgeable SBA specialists, processors, underwriters, and servicing professionals.
- Play a key role in expanding Washington Trust Bank's presence in the small business community.
- Competitive compensation with performance-based incentive opportunities.
Candidate Profile
The successful candidate is a proactive relationship builder who combines strong business development skills with SBA lending knowledge. They are energized by meeting with business owners, developing referral sources, identifying financing opportunities, and helping clients navigate the SBA lending process from initial conversation through funding.
Essential Functions:
- Provides SBA education and resources to Relationship Managers on an ongoing basis to ensure widespread knowledge of the SBA programs and attributes available by providing periodic group presentations, one-on-one consultations, reference and marketing materials and an intranet site.
- May coordinate supervisory direction with Portfolio and Servicing Specialist to ensure proper communication throughout the origination process with Processors/Closers.
- May supervise and direct other employees at the direction of the SBA Manager in support of the department’s involvement in special projects and objectives, as well as their production activities.
- Implements client specific SBA communication plans to establish and maintain excellent client relationships and identify client needs.
- Responsible for marketing SBA products/services to identified clients/referrals at the direction of department managers including preparing for joint client meetings and follow-up as necessary.
- Generates eligibility determinations, structures transactions and solicits requisite application documents for SBA loans.
- Assists Relationship Managers by selecting and helping implement SBA lending programs as appropriate based on the needs of the client.
- Works with relationship managers to help ensure an integrated and seamless approach to servicing the client.
- Participates in client relationship planning as it relates to SBA lending.
- Manages and assists with the management of SBA loan projects as needed by Relationship Managers.
- Keeps abreast of new products, methods/techniques, key industry trends, conditions and changes in laws and regulatory policies.
- Ensures an effective working relationship with other Bank personnel as required to perform client support and sales functions.
- Takes a leadership role in community affairs and activities where warranted for effective business development and community exposure.
- Maintains proficiency regarding current SBA regulations, and Bank and Divisional policies and procedures.
- Regular, reliable attendance is required.
- Perform compliance and risk management duties as required or assigned
Qualifications:
- Knowledge of SBA Standard Operating Procedures Subparts B&C of the 50 10 (Policies and procedures governing 7(a) business loan programs, SBA’s 504 Certified Development Company Loan Program), and SBA SOP 50 57.
- Must have a thorough understanding of SBA policies and structure, product knowledge, and financial analysis.
- Knowledge of government regulations surrounding SBA lending.
- Complete working knowledge of government, conventional, custom, and self-employed borrower loans. Preferred experience with SBA loan programs; however, SBA experience can be supplemented with experience in a closely related field.
- Proven analytical skills; ability to review and interpret complex data (determining risk, assessing complexity of accounts, etc).
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to analyze, synthesize and articulate complex ideas and communicate such to colleagues, team members, and clients
- Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to collaborate with and work effectively with diverse groups of people, managing conflict, negotiating for results and developing working relationships with potential and current clients
- High degree of PC based technical skills, including proficiency with the Microsoft Suite of products
- Ability to function efficiently and effectively with multiple request and projects under deadlines and stress while maintaining a professional and mature demeanor.
- Interpersonal skills necessary to gather data from a number of sources and to positively represent the Bank during such contacts.
- Ability to work well with people with diverse personalities.
- Comprehension of investor, insurer, regulatory, and the Bank’s requirements, and the ability to develop a subjective analysis of the borrower.
Compensation: $138,567 - $207,851
The compensation range represents the low and high end of the base compensation range for this position located in Seattle, Washington. Actual compensation will vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors including but not limited to location, experience, and performance. This position is eligible to participate in an applicable annual bonus plan.
What Our Culture Can Offer You:
Our benefit philosophy is to provide you with a comprehensive package to secure your overall wellness and help you become and remain a fulfilled and productive employee. Our benefits include Health, Financial, Retirement and Work/Life Benefits. We are proud to share an overview of our benefits HERE (https://www.watrust.com/assets/files/qFqeTTn6) as part of your total compensation.
Washington Trust Bank celebrates diversity in the workplace and actively recruits talent to help reflect the unique communities where we live and work. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination or harassment based on race, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, genetic information and any other protected characteristics outline by state, federal and local laws. We believe strength comes from the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our team, and we are dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
