Associate Loan Closing Specialist

Live Oak Bank; Wilmington (DE); On-site; USD 57,000 - 93,000; Full time

Job summary

Live Oak Bank seeks an Associate Loan Closing Specialist to drive the loan closing process from credit approval to funding, ensuring a superior customer experience.

You will collaborate with loan officers, underwriters, borrowers, attorneys, and the closing team to prepare accurate files, meet deadlines, and maintain compliance while delivering clear communication and proactive problem-solving.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in customer service with professional communication
• Excellent organizational skills managing multiple priorities and deadlines
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• High attention to detail and accuracy
• Professional and trustworthy with confidential information
• Experience in customer-facing roles such as lending or financial services (preferred)
• Prior SBA or commercial lending experience is a plus

Responsibilities

• Manage the loan closing process for SBA and Conventional loans from credit approval through funding with a focus on customer experience
• Create, distribute, and maintain loan closing checklists to track due diligence items
• Collaborate with borrowers, attorneys, loan officers, underwriters, and vendors to obtain documentation
• Lead closing kick-off calls and be the primary contact for borrowers and internal partners
• Deliver clear, timely, professional communication to borrowers about each closing step
• Respond to borrower and internal inquiries with urgency and accuracy
• Review and validate attorney-prepared closing documents for compliance
• Identify and resolve issues during closing, escalating as needed
• Assemble complete credit and closing files prior to funding
• Submit files for review and minimize exceptions with Closing Team Manager
• Proactively manage closing timelines and adjust dates when needed
• Coordinate with QA, borrowers, and attorneys to resolve closing exceptions
• Maintain clean, organized loan files and adhere to regulatory requirements
• Follow SBA SOPs and Live Oak Bank policies
• Collaborate as part of a team to deliver excellent service
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills

Customer service

Organization

Written and verbal communication

Education

High school diploma or GED

College degree in business/finance/legal studies

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

About Us

Live Oak Bank is a digital bank that serves small business owners across the country. Our groundbreaking spin on service and technology has fueled our mission to be America’s Small Business Bank. Our products help customers buy, build, and expand their business, and our high-yield savings and CD products help them grow their hard‑earned money. At Live Oak, we never lose sight of the well‑being of our people. We believe our employees are the heart of our company. Our commitment to our customers and culture is intertwined, and we seek those who embody and embrace what it takes to empower the American dream.

How This Role Impacts Live Oak And Its People

The Associate Loan Closing Specialist plays a key role in protecting the Bank’s interests while delivering an exceptional, high‑touch customer experience from credit approval through loan funding. This role quarterbacks the loan closing process by partnering closely with loan officers, underwriters, borrowers, attorneys, and the loan closing management team to ensure accurate, compliant, and timely closings. By balancing operational excellence with outstanding customer service, this role helps Live Oak build trusted, long‑term relationships with small business customers and internal partners.

What You’ll Do At Live Oak

• Manage the loan closing process for SBA and Conventional loans from credit approval through funding, with a strong focus on customer experience
• Create, distribute, and maintain loan closing checklists to ensure required due diligence items are tracked and completed
• Collaborate with borrowers, attorneys, loan officers, underwriters, and third‑party vendors to obtain documentation and information by established closing dates
• Lead closing kick‑off calls and serve as the primary point of contact for borrowers and internal partners throughout the closing process
• Deliver clear, timely, and professional communication to borrowers, ensuring they understand each step of the loan closing process
• Respond to borrower and internal inquiries with urgency, accuracy, and a customer‑first mindset
• Review and validate attorney‑prepared closing documents, using independent judgment to ensure compliance with Bank, credit, and regulatory requirements
• Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve issues during the closing process, escalating concerns when appropriate
• Assemble complete and accurate credit and closing files prior to loan funding
• Submit files for review in a timely manner and work closely with the Closing Team Manager to minimize review exceptions
• Proactively manage closing timelines, including adjusting closing dates or negotiating extensions when required documentation is delayed or incomplete
• Coordinate with Quality Assurance, borrowers, and attorneys to resolve loan exceptions while maintaining a positive customer experience
• Maintain clean, organized loan files through research, attention to detail, and problem solving
• Adhere to all applicable regulatory and compliance requirements, including BSA, AML, CIP, and OFAC
• Follow SBA Standard Operating Procedures and Live Oak Bank policies
• Function as an engaged and collaborative team member, recognizing that teamwork is critical to delivering excellent service
• Perform other duties as assigned

Required Experience

• High school diploma or GED
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Demonstrated customer service skills with the ability to communicate professionally and empathetically
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• High attention to detail with a high degree of accuracy
• Professional and trustworthy in handling confidential information

Preferred Experience

• College degree in business, finance, legal studies, or a related field
• Experience in customer‑facing roles such as lending, legal, real estate, financial services, operations, or project coordination
• Prior experience with SBA or commercial lending is a plus, but not required

Our Values

• Dedication: Possess a deep commitment to Live Oak Bank’s mission and core values, exemplified through a strong work ethic, adaptability and pride in your work.
• Ownership: Take initiative to deliver positive results by proactively and creatively solving problems, while maintaining a high degree of quality.
• Respect: Treat everyone with courtesy, politeness, and kindness.
• Innovation: Embrace fresh ideas and fearlessly contribute new solutions to emerging or existing problems.
• Teamwork: Foster collaboration, accountability, and trust with others and understand that together, we do more

For a detailed overview of our employee benefits please visit: http://www.liveoakbank.com/careers/

Live Oak Bank is an Affinitive Action and Equal Opportunity Employer, Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled. We consider applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, veteran status or disability. Equal access to programs, service and employment is available to all persons. Those applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application and/or interview process should notify human resources at [e-mail].

EEO is the Law

The base pay range for this position is $56,540.00 - $92,520.00 per year. Compensation may also include annual bonuses and long‑term incentives, subject to various metrics and company policy. A candidate’s salary is determined by several factors including travel, relevant work experience or skills and expertise.

Please note that we provide at least the minimum requirement of paid sick leave to our employees who reside in states that require employer‑paid sick leave, including but not limited to Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.