Commercial Lender

ThinkingAhead Executive Search; Augusta (GA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Our client, a well-established community bank in Augusta, GA, is seeking a Commercial Lender to join its market team, reporting to a long-tenured Market President who built the office from the ground up into a team of roughly 100 employees.

Based in Augusta, GA, this role offers exposure to CRE, C&I lending, and a growth-focused culture, with a flexible compensation approach and opportunity for market leadership as expansion proceeds.

Qualifications

• Proven commercial lending or business development experience with self-generated new business.

Responsibilities

• Generate new commercial lending relationships across the Augusta MSA and surrounding markets.
• Develop and manage a book of business across CRE and C&I lending, building on the market's existing strengths while identifying new niches.
• Partner closely with the Market President on relationship management, credit strategy, and market growth initiatives, including the planned expansion.
• Represent the bank in the local business community to build the referral relationships that drive new business in a small, relational market.

Skills

Commercial lending

Business development

Relationship building

Entrepreneurial mindset

Job description

Our client, a well-established community bank, is seeking a Commercial Lender to join its Augusta, GA market team, reporting to a long-tenured Market President who built the office from the ground up into a team of roughly 100 employees. The bank is now looking to add production capacity as the market's loan portfolio matures. This is an opportunity to join a high-performing team with genuine room to grow, including a planned market expansion and a potential path to market leadership.

Why This Role

• Established platform: join a market built de novo and grown to roughly 100 employees under stable, long-tenured leadership.
• Real growth trajectory: the bank is looking to grow the existing August team and expand into surrounding markets
• Diverse, active portfolio: exposure to CRE (self-storage, office, industrial, hotels, medical) and C&I (concrete, bridge span manufacturing, working capital lines), with room to build a niche of your own.
• Competitive, flexible compensation: no hard budget ceiling for the right hire, with demonstrated willingness to move well above initial ranges to land strong talent.

What You'll Do

• Generate new commercial lending relationships across the Augusta MSA and surrounding markets.
• Develop and manage a book of business across CRE and C&I lending, building on the market's existing strengths while identifying new niches.
• Partner closely with the Market President on relationship management, credit strategy, and market growth initiatives, including the planned expansion.
• Represent the bank in the local business community to build the referral relationships that drive new business in a small, relational market.

Required Qualifications

• Proven commercial lending/business development experience, with a track record of self-generated new business.
• Familiarity with CRE and/or C&I lending; experience in the Augusta, GA / Aiken-North Augusta, SC market or a comparable relational, non-metro market is a plus.
• Entrepreneurial mindset: comfortable building relationships from the ground up
• Interest in a long-term career path with a community-oriented bank, including future leadership potential.

Location & Compensation

• Based in Augusta, GA; candidates from within the broader six-county Augusta MSA (GA and SC) are welcome, and a physical presence in the market is valued (branch location not required). Candidates outside the immediate Augusta market will also be considered. Compensation is competitive base plus incentive, commensurate with experience, and flexible for the right candidate.