Commercial Loan Specialist I

Who We Are

First Fed is a local community bank on an exciting growth trajectory with 15 locations including 11 full-service branches in Western Washington. First Fed was recognized by the Puget Sound Business Journal as a Best Workplace and a Top Corporate Philanthropist. By popular vote, First Fed received awards for Best Bank in The Best of the Northwest, Best Banker in Readers’ Choice by Cascadia Daily News, and Peninsula Daily News named us Best Bank on the Olympic Peninsula. We also received a Best-In-State bank award from Forbes.

For over 100 years First Fed has served our customers and communities throughout the PNW. We’ve donated over $9 million to non-profit organizations in the past 8 years through our foundations, sponsorships, direct donations, and matched employee donations. Our amazing team has volunteered over 25,000 hours in the past 5 years – many by using our benefit of 3 paid volunteer days per year!

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds – our diversity makes us stronger. Join our award-winning team!

Our Values

Optimism: We are positive and decisive. We believe the future will be better than the past. Our attitude demonstrates persistence which leads to success.

Initiative: We are self-starters and find innovative solutions. We are courageous, entrepreneurial, and passionate. We take action for good.

Respect: We include individuals from diverse backgrounds and with different perspectives. We are committed to honoring and serving others.

Growth: We learn and adapt so we can continually improve. We believe in personal growth through grit and determination.

Ownership: We are invested in our endeavors. We are accountable and take responsibility for our actions and decisions.

Position Purpose

Provide diversified support to the initiation, growth, and management of commercial loan accounts.

Essential Functions

• Assist Relationship Managers to facilitate the timely processing of loan requests of low to medium complexity as well as monitoring and growing existing loan portfolios.
• Review and evaluate loan packages for completeness. Follow up with customers for the timely receipt of financial statements to ensure all requests, whether for new loans, renewals, modifications and/or extensions are processed timely.
• Monitor client documentation upload activity in Abrigo and file documents following established naming convention standards.
• Perform ongoing maintenance of financial ticklers in Abrigo.
• Support the preparation of loan approval packages by effectively communicating with customers to gather additional documents and information necessary to fully underwrite and decision loan requests.
• Obtain and review standard reports and coordinate with Relationship Managers on current and upcoming customer financial reporting requirements, delinquencies, overdrafts, loan maturities and periodic reviews.
• Review business entity documentation to verify proper borrowing structure and beneficial ownership.
• Order and analyze preliminary title commitments, UCC searches, flood determinations, environmental reports, and work to resolve any issues identified.
• Order appraisals and construction budget reviews.
• Responsible for reviewing property and liability insurance to ensure it complies with bank policy and procedure.
• Ensure accuracy with loan approval and compliance with bank policy and regulatory requirements prior to releasing documents for execution.
• Prepare and submit document order requests once all conditions to close have been met.
• Respond to telephone calls and emails to resolve routine inquiries.
• Understand, review, and deliver loan and account statements for business customers as needed.
• Identify, obtain, and distribute reports related to the commercial loan portfolio and / or business loan requests for Relationship Managers or management as required.
• Resolve administrative and loan processing concerns by analyzing issues; identify and coordinate appropriate solutions.
• Provide notary services to customers relating to the execution of loan documents as required.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Has a basic understanding of types of collateral and loan types, including but not limited to commercial real estate, UCC, vehicles, construction, and C & I.
• An associate's or bachelor’s degree in a business-related curriculum or three (3) years of demonstrated successful experience providing advanced and diversified support to commercial lending staff and management personnel.
• Working knowledge of commercial lending processes and procedures including commercial loan processing and documentation requirements preferred.
• Ability to be flexible in a fast-paced working environment and be adaptable to change.
• Working knowledge of administrative and office management practices and procedures.
• Has highly effective verbal and written communication, organizational, and planning skills.
• The ability to deal with confidential and highly sensitive customer information and situations with discretion, tact, and diplomacy.
• Ability to elicit cooperation and support from others and coordinate the work efforts of others. Demonstrated skill and proficiency in the use of personal computers, Microsoft Office Suite of applications.
• Preferred experience using Fiserv products, Laserpro, and Abrigo (Sageworks).
• Proven ability to work independently in a remote environment.
• Maintain regular and predictable attendance.

Physical Requirements

The work requires the ability to operate office machines and equipment, such as personal computers, printers, copying machines and telephones. The work requires the ability to communicate clearly with customers, coworkers, and others in person and remotely (telephone, video conference, written communication, etc.). Work activities involve a combination of sitting/standing for extended periods. Reasonable accommodat