The Lending Associate supports the commercial lending function by coordinating and managing the administrative, analytical, and operational activities associated with commercial loan relationships. This role works closely with Commercial Relationship Managers, lenders, credit analysts, underwriters, loan operations, and clients to facilitate the commercial loan process from initial application through closing and ongoing portfolio management.
This position requires direct commercial banking or commercial lending experience. Candidates with only retail banking, consumer lending, mortgage lending, or general administrative banking experience will not meet the requirements. The ideal candidate has previously held a Lending Associate title within a commercial banking environment and understands commercial credit processes, loan documentation, underwriting coordination, and portfolio administration.
Job Responsibilities
- Provide direct support to commercial lenders and relationship managers throughout the commercial loan origination and servicing process.
- Coordinate commercial loan applications, ensuring required financial statements, tax returns, borrowing information, and supporting documentation are collected and organized.
- Prepare, review, and maintain commercial loan files to ensure documentation is complete, accurate, and ready for underwriting and approval.
- Assist with the preparation of commercial credit packages, loan presentations, credit memorandums, and supporting financial information.
- Coordinate with credit analysts and underwriters to facilitate financial analysis, credit reviews, approvals, and follow-up requests.
- Track commercial loan requests through the approval, documentation, closing, and funding stages to ensure timely processing.
- Assist with the preparation and review of commercial loan documentation, including promissory notes, security agreements, guarantees, collateral documents, and other related materials.
- Coordinate loan closings with lenders, attorneys, borrowers, title companies, and internal loan operations teams.
- Review loan conditions and approval requirements to ensure all outstanding items are satisfied before closing and funding.
- Support the administration of commercial loan portfolios, including renewals, extensions, modifications, annual reviews, and covenant monitoring.
- Monitor financial reporting requirements, insurance documentation, borrowing base certificates, and other ongoing borrower obligations.
- Maintain accurate commercial loan records and update internal banking systems with relevant borrower, credit, and loan information.
- Respond to inquiries from commercial clients and internal departments regarding loan status, documentation, and servicing matters.
- Identify missing documentation, processing delays, and potential discrepancies, escalating issues to the appropriate lender or department.
- Ensure commercial lending activities comply with internal credit policies, approval requirements, and applicable banking regulations.
- Provide general administrative and operational support to the commercial lending department as needed.
Qualifications
- 5–10 years of professional experience in commercial banking or commercial lending.
- Previous experience working specifically as a Lending Associate within a commercial banking or commercial lending department is strongly preferred.
- Direct experience supporting commercial lenders, commercial relationship managers, or commercial credit teams.
- Working knowledge of the commercial loan lifecycle, including origination, underwriting, approval, documentation, closing, funding, and portfolio administration.
- Experience coordinating commercial loan applications and reviewing borrower financial documentation.
- Familiarity with commercial credit packages, loan documentation, annual reviews, renewals, modifications, and covenant tracking.
- Understanding of commercial lending products, including commercial real estate (CRE), commercial and industrial (C&I), business term loans, and lines of credit.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple commercial loan requests simultaneously.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work with lenders, borrowers, attorneys, and internal banking departments.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Word, and experience using commercial banking or loan origination systems.