Assistant General Counsel, Consumer & Small Business Banking

Valley National Bank; New York (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Valley National Bank seeks an experienced in‑house Legal Counsel to support SMB lending, private banking, and residential mortgage products. You will draft, negotiate, and review loan documents, advise on collateral structures, and navigate UCC matters with risk and operations teams.

Applicants must have a JD, active bar admission, and at least six years of relevant lending/financial services experience, including in‑house experience at a financial institution.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with cross‑functional teams and provide practical legal advice.
• Strong written and oral communication skills with the ability to negotiate complex documents.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal counsel to SMB lending and credit teams on commercial loans and credit facilities.
• Draft, review, and negotiate standardized loan documents including agreements, notes, guarantees, and security documents.
• Advise on collateral structures, UCC Article 9 matters, lien priority, and enforcement for lending programs.
• Support origination, servicing, and collections of consumer and residential mortgage lending products.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations (e.g., TILA, RESPA, ECOA, FCRA).
• Collaborate with risk, operations, and lending teams to ensure efficient and compliant transaction execution.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Attention to detail

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Provide legal counsel to SMB lending and credit teams in connection with commercial loans to small businesses, including term loans, revolving credit facilities, and other secured and unsecured lending products.
• Provide transactional legal support to the Bank's Private Bank in connection with a number of lending products, including securities‑based lending, premium finance lending, and other related private banking credit products, and to the Bank's Residential Mortgage team.
• Draft, review and negotiate standardized loan documentation, including loan agreements, notes, guaranties, security agreements, amendments, waivers, and related documentation.
• Advise on collateral structures, UCC Article 9 matters, lien priority, perfection, and enforcement, in a manner appropriate to SMB and private banking lending programs.
• Advise on legal matters related to the origination, servicing and collection of the Bank's consumer and residential mortgage lending products.
• Advise on laws, regulations, and standards that are applicable to consumer and residential mortgage loan products, including, but not limited to, the Truth in Lending Act, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, and Unfair Deceptive and Abusive Acts and Practices Act.
• Partner closely with lending, credit, risk, and operations teams to support efficient transaction execution while ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory, and policy requirements.
• Support ongoing maintenance and enhancement of template documentation to promote consistency and scalability across the SMB, private banking, consumer and residential mortgage lending platforms.

Required Skills:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Ability to navigate a fast-paced environment and handle multiple projects.
• Impeccable attention to detail, unwavering commitment to excellence, and the highest standards of integrity.

Required Experience:

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active bar membership in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• Minimum of 6 years as a practicing attorney with relevant lending and financial services experience, including in-house experience at a financial institution.