Commercial C&I Underwriter

First Bank; Newport Beach (CA); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

First Bank is seeking an Underwriter in Newport Beach, CA to assess commercial loan requests, including owner-occupied real estate and working capital facilities. You will evaluate borrower cash flow, collateral, and industry risk, producing credit memoranda and recommendations with independence and precision.

Senior candidates may handle more complex credits and provide guidance to junior staff. The role supports a hybrid work arrangement, with in-office and remote days, and offers compensation

Qualifications

• Experience evaluating commercial loan requests and borrower/guarantor strength.
• Ability to assess cash flows, collateral, and industry risk factors.
• Prepare objective, decision-ready credit memoranda and recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Prepare underwriting analyses for new loans, renewals, extensions, and modifications.
• Assess creditworthiness of borrowers and guarantors, including cash flow and collateral.
• Identify risks and propose mitigants aligned with risk appetite and policy.

Skills

Underwriting

Credit analysis

Cash flow analysis

Collateral assessment

Risk assessment

Credit memoranda

Job description

Newport Beach, California, United States

About this Role

The Commercial & Industrial (C&I) Underwriter serves as a critical control within the Bank’s credit risk management framework and is responsible for the independent risk assessment of commercial loan requests. This role focuses on commercial and industrial lending relationships, including owner-occupied real estate, working capital facilities, equipment financing, acquisition financing, lines of credit, and other commercial credit structures. The Underwriter provides objective evaluation of borrower and guarantor financial strength, cash flow repayment capacity, collateral support, industry and business risk factors; prepares comprehensive credit memoranda; identifies risk factors and exceptions to credit policy; and provides well-supported recommendations on credit decisions.

Candidates with more advanced commercial underwriting experience may be considered at the Senior Commercial & Industrial Underwriter level. At the senior level, the role would be expected to work with greater independence, underwrite more complex commercial credit relationships, provide stronger credit structuring recommendations, and serve as a resource to less experienced credit staff.

In this Role You Will

• Prepare objective underwriting analysis for commercial loan requests including new loans, renewals, extensions, and modifications
• Exercise independent judgment to assess the creditworthiness of loan requests, including analyses of borrowers, guarantors, cash flow, and collateral
• Identify transaction risks and propose mitigants to ensure alignment with the Bank's risk appetite
• Evaluate borrower operating performance, repayment capacity, liquidity, leverage, and industry risk factors
• Actively participate in the deal team, collaborating with Relationship Managers, Portfolio Managers, Regional Credit Officers, and other credit partners
• Prepare clear, complete, and decision-ready credit memoranda that support approval, renewal, modification, or decline recommendations
• Participate in training to increase proficiency as part of professional development
• Perform other duties as assigned

Compensation Disclosure

The range for this role takes into account many factors that First Bank considers when making hiring decisions, including but not limited to prior experience, skill set, training, and other internal business and organizational factors. First Bank generally does not hire at or near the top of the stated range. The range is driven by the geographic location of the anticipated hiring location; however, the specific range may vary depending on the geographic location for remote positions. Compensation decisions depend on the specific facts and circumstances of each hiring instance.

A reasonable estimate of the current pay range is $100,000 - $125,000, annually.

About Us

Be a part of a growing company that is truly committed to its employees and clients. Consider joining the First Bank family. As a member of our family, you are part of one of the largest independent banks in the U.S. We are proud of our growth and success over the past 100 years and look forward to a bright and promising future.

Diversity

At First Bank one of our biggest strengths is the diversity of our people. Our mission is to capitalize on the diversity of our associates and promote personal and professional development throughout every area of the organization. We encourage diversity by actively seeking employees from various backgrounds, walks of life, and job skills. We strongly encourage you to apply whenever a First Bank job opportunity interests you.

First Bank is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.

Attn: Applicants interested in a San Francisco based position: First Bank will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history in a manner consistent with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

At First Bank, we embrace a hybrid work environment which allows employees to work at least three full days in the office and two days working remotely. Additional in-office days are expected on a very limited basis.