In-House Banking Counsel & Strategic Risk Partner

FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK & TRUST; Fargo (ND); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K Retirement Plan with Employer Mat

Life and Disability Insurance

Generous PTO and Holiday pay

Job summary

First International Bank and Trust in Fargo seeks an experienced Corporate Counsel to serve as a trusted legal partner across the organization, providing practical, risk-balanced guidance on banking and corporate matters. You will work with the General Counsel and leadership to support strategic initiatives and day-to-day operations.

The role spans payments, retail, mortgage, compliance, and vendor management, with responsibilities including contract review, coordination with outside counsel,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from four-year college and JD required.
• Active license to practice law in at least one state where the bank operates (ND, MN, SD, or AZ).
• Prior experience in banking law, financial services, or an in-house corporate counsel role preferred.
• Strong judgment balancing legal risk and business objectives.
• Effective communicator who can translate complex legal concepts into clear guidance.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities across diverse business units.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal support across banking functions (Payments/Risk, Retail, Mortgage, Compliance, and more).
• Lead contract review and negotiation with Vendor Management.
• Coordinate work with outside counsel as needed.
• Offer actionable legal guidance to leadership for operations and strategy.
• Interpret and apply federal/state banking laws and regulations.
• Identify legal risks in business decisions and propose solutions.
• Support training for leadership on key legal topics.
• Assist with credit workouts, collections, litigation, HR, IT, and InfoSec as needed.
• Engage regulators, external counsel, and industry groups; support advocacy.

Skills

Legal knowledge

Regulatory compliance

Contract negotiation

Communication

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

First International Bank and Trust in Fargo seeks an experienced Corporate Counsel to serve as a trusted legal partner across the organization, providing practical, risk-balanced guidance on banking and corporate matters. You will work with the General Counsel and leadership to support strategic initiatives and day-to-day operations.

The role spans payments, retail, mortgage, compliance, and vendor management, with responsibilities including contract review, coordination with outside counsel,