CRA Program Leader: Compliance & Community Impact

Associated Bank; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 92,000 - 158,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan

Pension plan

Volunteer time off

Diversity resource groups

Well-being programs

Parental leave

Employee stock purchase plan

Job summary

Associated Bank seeks an Assistant CRA Officer to lead the Community Reinvestment Act program, ensuring regulatory compliance while advancing development initiatives across the organization. You will partner with business lines, monitor CRA performance, support examinations, and guide program strategy.

The role offers visibility, a clear succession path to CRA leadership, and opportunities to collaborate across functions while delivering training and reports to inform decision-making.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Risk, Compliance, CRA, Legal, Mortgage Lending, or a related field.
• 5+ years of banking experience in compliance, risk, CRA, regulatory examinations, or related risk management with an emphasis on CRA.
• 2+ years of banking leadership experience or experience leading and managing a banking department, product, or program.
• Experience working cross-functionally with multiple business lines.
• Knowledge of banking compliance, regulatory examinations, risk management, or Community Reinvestment Act requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations of the CRA program, ensuring timely completion of reviews and compliance-related activities.
• Partner with business lines to support community development lending, investments, services, and other CRA-eligible initiatives.
• Coordinate and support regulatory examinations, internal audits, mergers and acquisitions, and enterprise projects related to CRA compliance.
• Develop, implement, and enhance policies, procedures, and processes that strengthen regulatory compliance and program effectiveness.
• Facilitate meetings and collaborate across multiple business areas to promote CRA-related activities and business development opportunities.
• Monitor, validate, and analyze CRA data and reporting to ensure accuracy, integrity, and regulatory readiness.
• Deliver training, guidance, and ongoing support to business partners on CRA requirements and eligible activities.
• Prepare performance reporting, analyses, presentations, and management narratives to support decision-making and program oversight.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

Training delivery

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent (Risk/Compliance/CRA)

2+ years banking leadership experience

Job description

Associated Bank seeks an Assistant CRA Officer to lead the Community Reinvestment Act program, ensuring regulatory compliance while advancing development initiatives across the organization. You will partner with business lines, monitor CRA performance, support examinations, and guide program strategy.

The role offers visibility, a clear succession path to CRA leadership, and opportunities to collaborate across functions while delivering training and reports to inform decision-making.