Commercial Loan Officer in Training

First Northern Bank & Trust Co.; Palmerton (Carbon County); On-site; USD 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

First Northern Bank & Trust Co. seeks a Commercial Loan Officer in Training to develop credit, relationship-management, and business-development skills for serving local businesses and professionals.

You will shadow experienced lenders and credits staff while gaining hands-on experience in prospecting, credit analysis, loan structuring, documentation, closing, and portfolio administration. In this trainee program, you’ll participate in community activities, learn the bank’s markets, customers,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting, economics, agriculture, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Prior experience in community banking, credit, financial analysis, business development, agriculture, real estate, or customer service is preferred.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, organizational, and time‑management skills.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build rapport and explain financial information clearly and professionally.
• Interest in developing long‑term customer relationships and becoming actively involved in the communities served by the Bank.
• Ability to learn lending policies, credit concepts, loan documentation, Bank products, and applicable requirements.
• Proficiency with standard office software and the ability to learn Bank systems.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise sound judgment, work independently when appropriate, and manage multiple priorities accurately in a team‑oriented environment.
• Willingness to travel within the Bank’s market area and attend business or community events outside normal business hours when required.
• Must meet any registration, licensing, background, and training requirements applicable to the position.

Responsibilities

• Job shadowing, mentoring, and rotational experiences in commercial lending, credit administration, loan operations, and other community-bank functions.
• Learn the Bank’s markets, customers, products, credit culture, and relationship‑banking philosophy.
• Support calling efforts to develop relationships with local businesses, professionals, real estate investors, nonprofit organizations, and community partners.
• Participate in chambers of commerce, civic organizations, business associations, networking events, and Bank‑sponsored community activities as assigned.
• Assist with identifying customer needs and coordinating appropriate lending, deposit, and other Bank solutions through internal referrals.
• Gather and review borrower, guarantor, collateral, industry, and local market information.
• Analyze business and personal financial statements, tax returns, cash flow, debt‑service capacity, collateral, repayment sources, and other credit factors under supervision.
• Prepare accurate credit presentations, loan requests, annual reviews, renewals, and related memoranda for review and approval.
• Learn to recommend practical loan structures, terms, pricing, covenants, collateral, and risk controls that meet customer needs while remaining consistent with Bank policy and delegated authority.
• Coordinate directly with customers and internal partners to support documentation, closing, booking, funding, and post‑closing follow‑up.
• Monitor assigned credits for financial reporting, covenant compliance, payment performance, collateral requirements, documentation exceptions, and emerging risks, including changes affecting the local market or borrower.
• Maintain regular contact with customers, respond promptly to questions, and help resolve service issues through a high‑touch, relationship‑based approach.
• Maintain complete and accurate customer, prospect, and loan records in designated systems.
• Follow all applicable Bank policies and procedures, including requirements related to lending, fair lending, privacy, information security, Bank Secrecy Act, anti‑money laundering, and customer identification.
• Escalate credit concerns, policy exceptions, suspicious activity, customer complaints, and operational issues promptly to the appropriate manager.
• Work collaboratively with branch, credit, operations, deposit, and senior leadership teams to provide coordinated service and support Bank goals.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Time management

Problem solving

Relationship-building

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting, economics, agriculture, or a related field

Job description

Position Summary

The Commercial Loan Officer in Training develops the credit, relationship-management, and business-development skills needed to serve the lending needs of locally owned businesses, professionals, real estate investors, and other community members. Working closely with experienced lenders and credit staff, the trainee gains hands‑on experience in prospecting, credit analysis, loan structuring, documentation, closing, and portfolio administration. The role supports the Bank’s relationship-banking approach by delivering responsive, personalized service, building long‑term customer relationships, participating in the community, and balancing local decision‑making with sound credit and risk‑management practices.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Job shadowing, mentoring, and rotational experiences in commercial lending, credit administration, loan operations, and other community-bank functions.

• Learn the Bank’s markets, customers, products, credit culture, and relationship‑banking philosophy.

• Support calling efforts to develop relationships with local businesses, professionals, real estate investors, nonprofit organizations, and community partners.

• Participate in chambers of commerce, civic organizations, business associations, networking events, and Bank‑sponsored community activities as assigned.

• Assist with identifying customer needs and coordinating appropriate lending, deposit, and other Bank solutions through internal referrals.

• Gather and review borrower, guarantor, collateral, industry, and local market information.

• Analyze business and personal financial statements, tax returns, cash flow, debt‑service capacity, collateral, repayment sources, and other credit factors under supervision.

• Prepare accurate credit presentations, loan requests, annual reviews, renewals, and related memoranda for review and approval.

• Learn to recommend practical loan structures, terms, pricing, covenants, collateral, and risk controls that meet customer needs while remaining consistent with Bank policy and delegated authority.

• Coordinate directly with customers and internal partners to support documentation, closing, booking, funding, and post‑closing follow‑up.

• Monitor assigned credits for financial reporting, covenant compliance, payment performance, collateral requirements, documentation exceptions, and emerging risks, including changes affecting the local market or borrower.

• Maintain regular contact with customers, respond promptly to questions, and help resolve service issues through a high‑touch, relationship‑based approach.

• Maintain complete and accurate customer, prospect, and loan records in designated systems.

• Follow all applicable Bank policies and procedures, including requirements related to lending, fair lending, privacy, information security, Bank Secrecy Act, anti‑money laundering, and customer identification.

• Escalate credit concerns, policy exceptions, suspicious activity, customer complaints, and operational issues promptly to the appropriate manager.

• Work collaboratively with branch, credit, operations, deposit, and senior leadership teams to provide coordinated service and support Bank goals.

• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Training and Development Expectations

• Demonstrate progressive proficiency in credit analysis, loan policy, documentation, relationship management, portfolio monitoring, and the Bank’s products and services.

• Seek and apply feedback from mentors, managers, credit personnel, branch staff, operations partners, and experienced lenders.

• Build a professional network and demonstrate increasing confidence in customer calls, community events, and referral conversations.

• Assume increasing responsibility for smaller or less complex customer relationships and credit recommendations as knowledge, performance, and judgment develop.

• Meet defined performance standards before consideration for advancement to a Commercial Loan Officer position; completion of the training program does not guarantee promotion.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting, economics, agriculture, or a related field preferred; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.

• Prior experience in community banking, credit, financial analysis, business development, agriculture, real estate, or customer service is preferred.

• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, organizational, and time‑management skills.

• Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build rapport and explain financial information clearly and professionally.

• Interest in developing long‑term customer relationships and becoming actively involved in the communities served by the Bank.

• Ability to learn lending policies, credit concepts, loan documentation, Bank products, and applicable requirements.

• Proficiency with standard office software and the ability to learn Bank systems.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise sound judgment, work independently when appropriate, and manage multiple priorities accurately in a team‑oriented environment.

• Willingness to travel within the Bank’s market area and attend business or community events outside normal business hours when required.

• Must meet any registration, licensing, background, and training requirements applicable to the position.

Core Competencies

• Relationship banking and personalized customer service

• Community involvement and local market awareness

• Business development and referral building

• Credit judgment and analytical thinking

• Responsiveness, attention to detail, and follow‑through

• Adaptability and willingness to support multiple Bank functions

• Teamwork and collaboration

• Integrity, confidentiality, and professional conduct

• Risk awareness and policy compliance

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

This position generally operates in a professional community‑bank office environment and requires frequent use of a computer, telephone, and other standard office equipment. The employee must be able to communicate effectively, review detailed financial information, and remain in a stationary position for extended periods. Regular travel within the Bank’s market area and occasional attendance at customer meetings, site visits, networking functions, and community events may be required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals to perform the essential functions.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Bank is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without unlawful discrimination. This job description is not intended to contain a comprehensive listing of all duties or responsibilities. Duties may be changed at the Bank’s discretion, with or without notice.