VP, Lending

Who We Are

Cross River builds the infrastructure behind the world's most innovative financial products. Our technology and capital solutions power payments, cards, lending, and digital asset capabilities that move money safely, instantly, and inclusively — trusted by leading fintechs, enterprises, and disruptors across the globe.

Our mission is simple: to build the financial infrastructure that expands access and opportunity for all. Guided by a culture of collaboration, curiosity, and purpose, Cross River has been named one of American Banker's Best Places to Work in Fintech year after year. Whether you're designing code, solving regulatory puzzles, or developing strategy, you'll join a team where innovation and integrity drive everything we do — and where your work helps shape the future of finance.

What We're Looking For

We are seeking an experienced Vice President of Lending to lead our lending operations and strategy. This role requires a strategic leader with deep expertise in consumer credit, credit modeling, and risk management within the fintech ecosystem. The VP of Lending will drive innovation in lending practices while ensuring robust risk management and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership & Portfolio Management
  • Develop and execute comprehensive lending strategies aligned with business objectives and risk appetite
  • Oversee consumer lending portfolio performance, analyzing trends, identifying optimization opportunities, and establishing KPIs
  • Lead development of new lending products and enhancement of existing offerings through cross-functional collaboration
  • Monitor portfolio health metrics including origination volumes, approval rates, loss rates, and profitability
• Credit Risk & Model Management
  • Partner with data science and analytics teams to develop, validate, implement, and monitor credit decisioning models
  • Evaluate model performance and effectiveness, recommending adjustments to improve accuracy and business outcomes
  • Lead model governance practices ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements (SR 11-7, CECL, etc.)
  • Assess and mitigate risks associated with model use, including model risk, credit risk, and operational risk
  • Oversee underwriting policies and credit strategies to align with risk tolerance and business goals
• Fintech Ecosystem & Innovation
  • Leverage deep understanding of the fintech ecosystem to identify partnership opportunities, market trends, and competitive dynamics
  • Collaborate with fintech partners, origination platforms, technology providers, and embedded finance partners
  • Drive digital transformation initiatives and evaluate emerging technologies and alternative data sources for credit assessment
  • Champion innovation in lending processes, automation, and customer experience
• Risk Management & Compliance
  • Establish and maintain comprehensive risk management frameworks for all lending operations
  • Ensure compliance with federal and state lending regulations including TILA, ECOA, FCRA, and state licensing requirements
  • Work closely with Compliance, Legal, and Risk Management teams to address regulatory requirements and audits
  • Lead fair lending initiatives, conduct disparate impact analysis, and ensure responsible lending practices

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Business, Statistics, or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred
• 10+ years of progressive experience in consumer lending or credit risk, with 5+ years in senior leadership
• Strong knowledge of consumer credit products and extensive experience working with credit models (development, validation, implementation, and monitoring)
• Deep understanding of fintech ecosystems, digital lending platforms, and emerging technologies
• Proven ability to work on risk areas of model use including model risk management and regulatory compliance
• Proficiency in credit risk analytics, statistical modeling, and strong understanding of lending regulatory frameworks
• Demonstrated success in building lending operations with excellent strategic thinking, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Experience in banking, fintech, or financial services organizations preferred

#LI-KR1 #LI-Hybrid #LI-Onsite

Salary Range: $160, $220,000.00

Cross River is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Cross River does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.

By submitting your application, you give Cross River permission to email, call, or text you using the contact details provided. We will only contact you with job related information.