Credit Risk Analyst

Western State Bank; West Fargo (ND); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan)

Health, vision, dental benefits

Paid time off & holidays

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Western State Bank is seeking a Credit Risk Analyst to strengthen loan portfolio decisions and risk management. You’ll collaborate across lending, credit, mortgage, and risk teams to review files, report on risk, and support mortgage quality control.

This role emphasizes analytical thinking, questions-driven analysis, and cross-functional collaboration to improve processes and documentation. A strong eye for detail and comfort with banking systems are essential.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Related experience in banking, credit, lending, loan file review, mortgage, financial services operations, risk, or another regulated environment.
• Ability to review detailed information, interpret policies and procedures, document findings, and communicate results clearly.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, follow-through, and ability to balance multiple priorities.
• Comfort learning and using banking systems, reporting tools, spreadsheets, and other business technology.

Responsibilities

• Review loan files and document findings; interpret loan policy and ensure consistent credit administration.
• Compile and review credit risk and loan portfolio reporting for lending teams, senior management, and the Board of Directors.
• Support mortgage quality control through file reviews, findings management, and reporting.
• Identify opportunities to improve reporting, documentation, procedures, and risk practices.
• Collaborate with lenders, credit professionals, loan support teams, mortgage partners, vendors, and leaders to resolve findings and move work forward.
• Support audit and exam readiness with organized, reliable documentation.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Detail-oriented

Communicate results clearly

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in finance, business, accounting, management, or related field

Tools

Banking systems

Reporting tools

Spreadsheets

Job description

Build your career in credit risk. Strengthen decisions. Make an impact across Western.

If you’re analytical, detail-oriented, and curious about how lending decisions, credit quality, and risk management come together, this could be a great opportunity to grow your career with Western.

As a Credit Risk Analyst, you’ll work across lending, credit, mortgage, and risk teams to help protect the quality of Western’s loan portfolio and strengthen the processes behind sound credit decisions. You’ll gain exposure to multiple areas of the organization while developing experience in credit review, portfolio reporting, loan policy, mortgage quality control, and risk management.

This isn’t a role where you’ll simply check boxes. We’re looking for someone who asks good questions, enjoys digging into details, can connect information across files and reports, and wants to help make processes better.

What You’ll Do

You’ll partner with teams across Western to:

• Support credit reviews by reviewing loan files, documenting findings, interpreting loan policy, and helping ensure consistent credit administration.
• Turn data into useful information by compiling and reviewing credit risk and loan portfolio reporting used by lending and credit teams, Senior Management, and the Board of Directors.
• Support mortgage quality control through file reviews, findings management, reporting, and coordination with mortgage partners and third-party vendors.
• Help strengthen our processes by identifying opportunities to improve reporting, documentation, procedures, workpapers, and other credit risk practices.
• Collaborate across the organization with lenders, credit professionals, loan support teams, mortgage partners, vendors, and leaders to answer questions, resolve findings, and keep work moving forward.
• Support audit and exam readiness by maintaining accurate, organized, and reliable documentation.

What Success Looks Like

You don’t need to know everything on day one. What matters is bringing the curiosity and judgment to learn.

You’ll Thrive In This Role If You

• Enjoy analyzing information and getting into the details.
• Can look at a file, report, or process and ask, “Does this make sense?”
• Are comfortable asking questions and working with people across different areas of the business.
• Take ownership of your work and follow through on open items.
• Communicate clearly, professionally, and respectfully.
• Know when to research an issue independently and when to ask for help or escalation.
• Handle confidential information with care and sound judgment.
• Look for practical ways to make processes and reporting better.

What You Bring

We’re open to different backgrounds that can translate successfully into this role.

Required

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Related experience in banking, credit, lending, loan file review, mortgage, financial services operations, risk, or another comparable regulated environment.
• Ability to review detailed information, interpret policies and procedures, document findings, and communicate results clearly.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, follow-through, and ability to balance multiple priorities.
• Comfort learning and using banking systems, reporting tools, spreadsheets, and other business technology.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, business, accounting, management, or a related field.
• Experience in credit risk, credit review, lending, credit administration, portfolio reporting, mortgage quality control, or another area of banking.
• Experience reviewing loan files, compiling report data, tracking findings, or supporting formal review processes.
• Experience in a community bank or regulated financial services environment.

Why Western?

At Western, how we work matters just as much as the work itself.

We value people who take ownership, support one another, communicate openly, protect the trust our customers place in us, and look for better ways to get things done. In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to work with teams across the organization and build knowledge that reaches beyond a single area of banking.

And because Western is employee-owned, eligible team members have the opportunity to participate in our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) giving our people a meaningful connection to the success we build together.

Total Rewards

Western offers a competitive total rewards package designed to support your financial, physical, and overall well-being, including:

• Competitive base salary based on experience, skills, role scope, internal equity, and market location
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), subject to plan requirements and vesting provisions
• 401(k) plan and company contributions
• Health, dental, vision, life, and disability benefits
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Employee assistance and wellness resources
• Professional development opportunities
• Banking benefits and additional team member programs