Director, Bank Origination

CardWorks, Inc.; South Jordan (UT); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

401(k) Plan with Company Match

Disability insurance

Wellness programs

Paid time off

Holidays

Employee engagement activities

Job summary

Merrick Bank in South Jordan, Utah seeks a Director Bank Partnerships to lead fintech partner relationships within the Bank Origination team. You will blend strategic vision with hands‑on execution to ensure programs are safe, compliant and scalable.

You will manage due diligence, performance, and contract adherence, coordinate risk oversight with internal teams, and translate complex data into clear executive insights for stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or related field.
• 5+ years in banking/fintech, with at least 3 years in third‑party management or operations.
• Experience in sponsored lending and lending products.
• Proven track record working cross‑functionally with internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Partnership development & management for assigned Programs.
• Program oversight & optimization: day‑to‑day operations; monitor performance & KPIs.
• Regulatory & risk alignment: collaborate on risk, legal, and audit remediation.

Skills

Lending products

Regulatory frameworks

Negotiation

Presentation

Cross-functional collaboration

Executive materials

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or related field

Tools

PowerPoint

Dashboards

Job description

Join our team and build your career with momentum as we champion your growth, elevate your ideas and engage you in purpose-driven work that makes a real difference every day.

Who we are Founded in 1997, Merrick Bank is an FDIC®-insured financial institution headquartered in South Jordan, Utah, with over $10 billion in assets. A wholly owned subsidiary of CardWorks Financial Group, Merrick Bank serves roughly five million cardmembers and more than 100,000 merchant customers nationwide.

What we do We provide credit cards, recreational loans, deposit accounts, merchant services and bank sponsorships to consumers and businesses. As a leader in non-prime lending and merchant acquiring, we combine innovative technology with data-driven insights to help underserved consumers build and strengthen credit while delivering integrated, scalable payment solutions for businesses. Merrick Bank ranks among the top 20 FDIC®-insured credit card issuers in the U.S. and among the top 15 merchant acquirers by transaction volume.

Position Summary and Role Impact

Merrick Bank works with strategic partners in order to offer nationwide lending programs (the “Program”). These partners administers the Program on behalf of the bank, which is responsible for ongoing oversight. The Director Bank Partnerships is a key member of Merrick Bank’s Bank Origination team, serving as the primary steward of relationships with new and existing fintech partners. This role blends strategic vision with hands‑on execution, ensuring that Programs are safe, sound, compliant and positioned for sustainable growth. As the Program relationship owner the individual will oversee Program due diligence, performance, adherence to contractual requirements, and coordinate ongoing oversight with internal risk managers. Success in this position requires an understanding of lending products and regulatory frameworks. The ideal candidate thrives at the intersection of finance, risk and relationship management—driving innovation while safeguarding the bank’s reputation and regulatory standing. The Director Bank Partnerships plays a critical role in coordinating the day‑to‑day oversight of Programs by tracking ongoing reporting requirements, assessing data, identifying trends or issues, scheduling periodic meetings with the Partner and summarizing insights for consumption by internal resources. The position reports to the VP, Bank Origination.

Essential Functions

• Partnership Development & Management: Assists with due diligence and onboarding of new partners as needed. Serves as the primary relationship owner for assigned Programs. Fosters long-term, mutually beneficial collaborations.
• Program Oversight & Optimization: Primary point of contact for origination partners. Oversees day-to-day operations. Monitors partner performance against contractual requirements and financial KPIs. Recommends program enhancements. Ensures operational efficiency, service excellence, and compliance across multiple Programs. Tracks origination volumes and pricing to inform Program performance and process improvements.
• Regulatory & Risk Alignment: Collaborate with internal risk and operational teams on bank’s ongoing oversight. Work with legal and compliance to address audit findings and issue remediation. Ensures audit readiness and leads Program management implementation aligned with regulatory and internal risk frameworks. For each Program, confirms business continuity and disaster recovery capabilities and bank contingency plan.

Education & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or related field. Coursework or certification in fintech, banking compliance, third‑party management or project management is a plus. 5+ years in banking, fintech, or financial services, with at least 3 years in third‑party management or operations management. Experience in sponsored lending and lending products. Proven track record working cross‑functionally with internal and external stakeholders.

Knowledge, Skills and Qualifications

Understanding of lending products and loan lifecycle. Strong negotiation, presentation, and interpersonal skills. Comfortable managing multiple high‑value relationships in a fast‑paced, regulated environment. Familiarity with banking regulations third‑party risk management guidelines. Demonstrated expertise in enterprise risk management framework, including development of executive‑level materials such as dashboards, PowerPoint presentations, and written summaries. Proven track record working cross‑functionally with internal and external stakeholders. Ability to aggregate and synthesize complex information into clear and concise insights.

Compliance with Laws & Regulations

Responsible for complying with all the Bank’s internal control policies and procedures. Responsible for understanding and complying with applicable laws and banking regulations. Responsible for communicating problems in operations, noncompliance with the code of conduct, noncompliance with laws and regulations, policy violations, or illegal acts.

Work Environment / Physical Demands

This is largely a sedentary role. On‑site meetings and occasional travel is required.

Security Responsibilities

This classification requires heightened security awareness to safeguard the Bank's data, including customer non-public personal information. This position has access to sensitive loan documentation and customer data and must ensure all information is handled with strict confidentiality and in compliance with all regulatory guidelines.

Why join us

We believe in putting people first by supporting our customers, employees and our partners while creating opportunities for everyone to reach their potential. From fostering work‑life balance to rewarding good work and innovative ideas, we invest in what matters most, our people. At Merrick Bank, you’ll be part of a collaborative, customer‑focused team where you can grow your career while making a meaningful impact.

Benefits and Compensation

• Competitive Pay, including a Bonus Target or Variable Pay Incentive Program
• Benefits Package -Medical, Dental, and Vision (plus much more)
• 401(k) Plan with Company Match
• Short- & Long-Term Disability
• Wellness Programs
• Group Life and AD&D Insurance
• Paid Vacation, Sick Days and bank Holidays
• Employee Engagement Activities including Employee Appreciation Day, DEI Employee Resource Groups, Corporate Social Responsibility, Service Recognition

We offer a total rewards package comprised of a competitive base rate of pay, variable pay incentive programs based on the role, and a comprehensive benefit suite.Offered rates of pay are determined based on job-related knowledge, relevant experience, skills, certifications, and geographic location.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to age, race, color, sex, or gender identity/expression (including pregnancy, childbirth, transgender status, or sexual orientation), religion or creed, ancestry, citizenship, national origin, disability, military or veteran status, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We do not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. Employment decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs. Everyone is welcome here, and we hire based on your ability to do the job, not any protected characteristics. If you need help or reasonable accommodation during the application or hiring process, please let your TA Partner know.

Thanks for your interest in working on our team!!

CardWorks Financial Group is the engine driving financial progress, a diversified consumer finance provider building ethical solutions across credit, lending, and the full customer lifecycle. Advancing finance with purpose, we put people—clients, customers, and colleagues—at the center of everything we do, guided by our CRITICAL values and united as one enterprise across Merrick Bank, CardWorks Servicing, and Carson Smithfield. As your everyday champion, our vertically integrated platform fuels financial progress through access to credit, high yield deposits, flexible merchant payments, and end to end servicing performance—powered by a culture of relentless curiosity, belonging, and growth.