The Commercial Loan Underwriter is responsible for independently analyzing, underwriting, and recommending credit decisions for commercial lending relationships in accordance with bank policy, regulatory guidance, and safe-and-sound banking practices. The role evaluates the creditworthiness of borrowers, assesses repayment capacity, analyzes collateral protection, identifies risks, and prepares comprehensive credit memorandums to support lending decisions while maintaining strong asset quality and regulatory compliance.
Key Responsibilities
Credit Analysis & Underwriting
- Analyzes commercial loan requests, which may include C&I, owner-occupied real estate, investor real estate, construction, and specialty lending.
- Evaluate borrower and guarantor financial strength through detailed analysis of:
- Historical and projected financial statements
- Tax returns
- Cash flow and debt service coverage
- Liquidity, leverage, and profitability metrics
- Industry and market conditions
- Assess repayment sources and identify potential credit risks.
- Determine appropriate loan structures, terms, covenants, collateral requirements, and guarantor support.
- Ensure underwriting recommendations align with the Bank's risk appetite and credit culture.
Credit Risk Assessment
- Assign and recommend risk ratings consistent with regulatory guidance and bank policy.
- Identify emerging risks and concentrations by industry, geography, collateral type, and borrower relationship.
- Evaluate sensitivity to economic, market, and interest rate changes.
Loan Structuring & Documentation
- Prepare detailed credit approval memorandums and underwriting analyses.
- Verify completeness and accuracy of borrower financial information and supporting documentation.
- Review appraisals, environmental reports, credit reports, UCC filings, collateral documentation, and other due diligence materials.
- Confirm compliance with approved loan structures and internal lending authorities.
Regulatory Compliance
- Ensure all underwriting activities comply with:
- OCC regulations and guidance
- Safe and Sound Banking Practices
- Bank Secrecy Act (BSA)
- Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements
- Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), where applicable
- Internal credit policies and procedures
Portfolio Management Support
- Participate in annual reviews, renewals, modifications, and portfolio monitoring.
- Recommend risk mitigation strategies as needed.
Competencies Required
- Strong understanding of:
- Commercial credit analysis
- Financial statement analysis
- Cash flow modeling
- Commercial loan structuring
- Risk rating methodologies
- Commercial real estate and C&I lending
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment.
- Proficiency in commercial spreading and credit analysis software.
Job
Lending
Primary Location
Texas-The Woodlands
Schedule
Full-time
Work Locations
TX - Towncenter-0312
Unposting Date
Ongoing
Organization
Texas - Houston
Minimum Qualifications/Experience
- 2+ years of commercial credit analysis/underwriting experience
- Experience underwriting middle-market, commercial real estate, and/or C&I lending relationships.
Formal Education & Certification
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, or related field.
- Advanced credit analyses preferred.
Work Status
Supervisory Responsibility
- Four or more direct reports
Travel
- No overnight travel expected
Working Conditions
- Conditions involve lifting no more than ten pounds, sitting, but may involve walking, moving, or standing for brief periods, and occasionally lifting and carrying articles like files, ledgers, folders, etc.
Disclaimer
This job description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the employee. Nothing herein restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Woodforest is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disability and Veterans.