Credit Officer

Farm Credit Illinois; Mahomet (IL); On-site; USD 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with employer contributions

Vacation days

Sick days

Career development

Job summary

Farm Credit Illinois seeks a Credit Officer to provide advanced credit analysis, underwriting expertise, and loan decisioning support for sound credit administration and portfolio quality. This role partners with lending and branch staff to evaluate opportunities, mitigate risk, support approvals, and improve credit processes.

The candidate will develop credit narratives, risk mitigation strategies, and participate in committees to determine approval within delegated authority, while training

Qualifications

• Working knowledge of credit analysis, underwriting principles, and regulatory requirements.
• General understanding of production agriculture, finance, and economic concepts.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate information, identify key details, and make sound decisions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and the ability to learn and leverage technology to improve efficiency.
• Effective oral and written communication skills with the ability to collaborate and exchange information with colleagues, leadership, and customers.

Responsibilities

• Analyze and underwrite agricultural loan requests by evaluating financial information, assessing risk, determining eligibility, and preparing comprehensive credit recommendations.
• Apply the 5 Cs of Credit, financial projections, collateral analysis, and risk assessments to support sound lending decisions and appropriate loan structures.
• Serve as a credit resource to lending teams by providing guidance on underwriting standards, credit administration, loan approvals, portfolio risk, and financial analysis.
• Participate in Credit Services Division and Association Loan Committees by evaluating loan opportunities, recommending structures and terms, and determining approval or denial decisions within delegated authority.
• Develop written credit narratives, loan servicing plans, covenant recommendations, and risk mitigation strategies that support portfolio quality and regulatory compliance.
• Provide training and technical support to lending staff while contributing to process improvement initiatives and strengthening credit procedures across the Association.
• Support credit system enhancements by testing software functionality, identifying process improvements, documenting procedures, and participating in implementation and training efforts.

Skills

Credit analysis

Underwriting

Regulatory knowledge

Agriculture knowledge

Analytical skills

Microsoft Office

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in finance/agriculture/business

Job description

About Farm Credit Illinois

Farm Credit Illinois (FCI) is an agricultural financial cooperative owned by more than 17,400 farmers, rural landowners, and agribusiness voting stockholders in the southern 60 counties of Illinois. Dedicated to Helping Farm Families Succeed, FCI provides competitive and flexible financing, crop insurance expertise, and Rural 1st country life lending. FCI manages an $8 billion loan portfolio, sells 1.5 million acres of crop insurance coverage, and employs approximately 300 staff in the Mahomet headquarters and 14 regional offices. The U.S. Farm Credit System is a network of locally owned cooperatives supporting rural communities, farm families, and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services today and tomorrow.

Why Join Us

• Competitive compensation package. Grade and salary commensurate with experience, with an annualized base salary range of 70,000.00
• 100,000.00plus a bonus based on team and individual performance.

• Comprehensive benefit package includes 401(k) with 3% employer contribution and 6% employer match, vacation days, sick days, 13

• Professional development and career growth opportunities.

• Opportunity to work for a reputable and community-focused financial institution dedicated to a positive, collaborative work environment that encompasses the association's mission to serve our members and the agricultural industry as we strive to help farm families succeed.

The Role

The Credit Officer provides advanced credit analysis, underwriting expertise, and loan decisioning support to ensure sound credit administration and portfolio quality. This role partners closely with lending and branch staff to evaluate credit opportunities, mitigate risk, support loan approvals, and contribute to continuous improvement of credit processes and systems.

What You Will Contribute

• Analyze and underwrite agricultural loan requests by evaluating financial information, assessing risk, determining eligibility, and preparing comprehensive credit recommendations.
• Apply the 5 Cs of Credit, financial projections, collateral analysis, and risk assessments to support sound lending decisions and appropriate loan structures.
• Serve as a credit resource to lending teams by providing guidance on underwriting standards, credit administration, loan approvals, portfolio risk, and financial analysis.
• Participate in Credit Services Division and Association Loan Committees by evaluating loan opportunities, recommending structures and terms, and determining approval or denial decisions within delegated authority.
• Develop written credit narratives, loan servicing plans, covenant recommendations, and risk mitigation strategies that support portfolio quality and regulatory compliance.
• Provide training and technical support to lending staff while contributing to process improvement initiatives and strengthening credit procedures across the Association.
• Support credit system enhancements by testing software functionality, identifying process improvements, documenting procedures, and participating in implementation and training efforts.

What We Are Looking For

Required Skills

• Working knowledge of credit analysis, underwriting principles, and regulatory requirements.
• General understanding of production agriculture, finance, and economic concepts.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate information, identify key details, and make sound decisions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and the ability to learn and leverage technology to improve efficiency.
• Effective oral and written communication skills with the ability to collaborate and exchange information with colleagues, leadership, and customers.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in finance, agriculture, business, or a related field
• or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to perform the essential functions of the role

Farm Credit Illinois is an