Loan Officer

PRIMARY PURPOSE OF JOB Originates various loans, promotes the bank and its lending services to the real estate community and helps to identify and serve the community’s financial needs. EXPECTATIONS OF ALL SOUTHERN BANK TEAM MEMBERS • Southern Bank team members are a family, rooted in the communities we serve and working together to be the best in our industry, utilizing innovative ideas and strong products. The Southern Bank Patch illustrates these ideals. • Ensures the confidentiality of customer non-public personal information and secures information systems to comply with bank regulations. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND PERFORMANCE AREAS • Solicits loan customers; personally interviews, assesses and determines credit worthiness of loan applicants; • Completes loan application and all pre-processing functions in a timely manner; • Screens loan requests based on bank policies and on types of loans offered by the bank; • Follows up with applicants and secures the necessary information to underwrite the loan and conducts site visits if needed; • Negotiates loan structure; • Promotes and participates in the bank’s special credit programs and other CRA programs; • Works with loan coordinator to order appraisals, credit reports, reference checks and other information as needed on loan applicants; • Actively makes referrals to Personal Bankers for deposit-related accounts and products; • Collaborates with Credit Analysts in order to prepares loan presentations as necessary for presentation to the Loan Committee; and, • Actively participates in local business and community activities and maintains close contact with local builders, real estate brokers and agents, customers and prospects. Qualifications The following specifications are general guidelines based on the minimum education and experience normally considered essential to the satisfactory performance of this position. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required to perform the position in a satisfactory manner. Individual abilities may result in some deviation from these guidelines. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES • Good sales, organizational, managerial and interpersonal skills. • Good oral and written communication skills. EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS • Bachelor’s degree in business or finance. (Sales/loan experience may be considered in lieu thereof.) • One to two years’ experience in a financial institution or loan setting office. CORE COMPETENCIES Building Trust – Interacting with others in a way that gives them confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization. Customer Focus – Ensuring that the customer perspective is a driving force behind business decisions and activities; crafting and implementing service practices that meet customers’ and own organization’s needs. Contributing to Team Success - Actively participating as a member of a team to move the team toward the completion of goals. Building Customer Loyalty – Effectively meeting customer needs; building productive customer relationships; taking responsibility for customer satisfaction and loyalty. Decision Making – Identifying and understanding issues, problems, and opportunities; comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints, and probable consequences. Engagement Readiness – Demonstrating a willingness to commit to one’s work and to invest one’s time, talent and best efforts in accomplishing organizational goals. Sales Ability/Persuasiveness – Using appropriate interpersonal styles and communication methods to gain acceptance of a product, service, or idea from prospects and clients.