Lending Specialist - Community Mortgage

CIBC US; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

CIBC is seeking a Lending Specialist - Community Mortgage in Chicago, IL. You will provide underwriting and credit analysis support to lending partners as they evaluate, structure, and process loan applications, review borrower information, assess credit risk, and prepare underwriting summaries and recommendations.

This role emphasizes prudent lending aligned with community objectives, regulatory compliance, and collaboration with partners.

Qualifications

• Experience in underwriting, credit analysis, and mortgage lending.
• Knowledge of FHA guidelines and grants or down payment assistance programs.

Responsibilities

• Review loan applications, financial information, credit reports, tax returns, collateral details, and supporting documentation to assess borrower capacity, repayment ability, and overall credit risk.
• Prepare underwriting summaries and recommendations for approval or further review.
• Ensure files meet internal lending standards and regulatory requirements.
• Work closely with lending partners to structure credit solutions that balance risk and community objectives.
• Maintain underwriting notes and system updates, communicate decisions clearly, and elevate complex requests when needed.
• Contribute to process improvements that enhance consistency, efficiency, and service delivery across underwriting support activities.

Skills

Credit Analysis

Underwriting

Mortgage Lending

Credit Risk

Financial Analysis

CRA Lending

Community Development

Documentation Review

Policy Compliance

Job description

What you’ll be doing

As a Lending Specialist - Community Mortgage, you’ll provide underwriting and credit analysis support to lending partners as they evaluate, structure, and process loan applications. You’ll review borrower information and supporting documentation, assess credit risk, and help identify eligibility, policy, and documentation requirements. You’ll also prepare clear underwriting summaries and recommendations, support timely credit decisions, and help ensure each file meets internal standards and regulatory expectations. This role is well suited to someone who brings strong analytical thinking, sound judgment, and a commitment to prudent lending that supports community objectives. At CIBC we enable the work environment most optimal for you to thrive in your role. Details on your work arrangement (proportion of on-site and remote work) will be discussed at the time of your interview.

How you’ll succeed

• Credit Analysis - Review loan applications, financial information, credit reports, tax returns, collateral details, and supporting documentation to assess borrower capacity, repayment ability, and overall credit risk.
• Underwriting Support - Identify missing documentation, underwriting conditions, and policy or eligibility concerns, and prepare clear credit summaries and recommendations for approval or further review.
• File Quality and Compliance - Help ensure files are complete, accurate, and aligned with internal lending standards, regulatory requirements, and applicable program criteria.
• Partnership - Work closely with lending partners and internal stakeholders to structure credit solutions that balance sound risk management with community lending objectives.
• Process Management - Maintain accurate underwriting notes and system updates, communicate decisions and outstanding items clearly, and elevate complex or exception-based requests when needed.
• Continuous Improvement - Contribute to process improvements that enhance consistency, efficiency, and service delivery across underwriting support activities.

Who you are

• You have relevant underwriting experience.
• You bring experience in underwriting, credit analysis, mortgage lending, community development finance, small business lending, or commercial lending.
• A background supporting specialized lending teams is an asset.
• You know how to assess credit risk.
• You have strong knowledge of lending principles, financial analysis, and credit risk assessment, with the ability to review financial statements, tax returns, cash flow, credit reports, and borrower documentation.
• You bring specialized mortgage knowledge.
• You have deep knowledge of Federal Housing Administration (FHA) guidelines and experience working with grants and down payment assistance programs.
• You understand community-focused lending.
• Familiarity with community development programs, affordable lending initiatives, mission-based credit products, or Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) related lending is preferred.
• You’re organized and detail-oriented.
• You can manage multiple files at once while maintaining a high standard of accuracy, documentation quality, and follow-through.
• Values matter to you.
• You bring your real self to work, and you live our values - trust, teamwork, and accountability.

California residents — your privacy rights regarding your actual or prospective employment

At CIBC, we offer a competitive total rewards package. This role has an expected salary range of $85,000 - $110,000 for the Chicago, IL market based on experience, qualifications, and location of the position. The successful candidate may be eligible to participate in the relevant business unit’s incentive compensation plan, which also may include a discretionary bonus component. CIBC offers a full range of benefits and programs to meet our employee’s needs; including Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account, Life Insurance, Disability, and Other Insurance Plans, Paid Time Off (including Sick Leave, Parental Leave, and Vacation), Holidays, and 401(k), in addition to other special perks reserved for our team members. This position does not offer visa sponsorship. #LI-TA

What CIBC Offers

At CIBC, your goals are a priority. We start with your strengths and ambitions as an employee and strive to create opportunities to tap into your potential. We aspire to give you a career, rather than just a paycheck. We work to recognize you in meaningful, personalized ways including a competitive salary, incentive pay, banking benefits, a benefits program*, a vacation offering, wellbeing support, and MomentMakers, our social, points-based recognition program. Our spaces and technological toolkit will make it simple to bring together great minds to create innovative solutions that make a difference for our clients. We cultivate a culture where you can express your ambition through initiatives like Purpose Day; a paid day off dedicated for you to use to invest in your growth and development. *Subject to plan and program terms and conditions

What you need to know

CIBC is committed to creating an inclusive environment where all team members and clients feel like they belong. We seek applicants with a wide range of abilities and we provide an accessible candidate experience. If you need accommodation, please contact [e-mail]. You need to be legally eligible to work at the location(s) specified above and, where applicable, must have a valid work or study permit. We may ask you to complete an attribute-based assessment and other skills tests (such as simulation, coding, MS Office). Our goal for the application process is to get to know more about you, all that you have to offer, and give you the opportunity to learn more about us.

Job Location

IL-Chicago, 120 S LaSalle St Fl 2

Employment Type

Regular

Weekly Hours

40

Skills

Client Service, Community Connections, Credit Analysis, Credit Decisions, Credit Policies, Customer Experience (CX), Lending, Loan, Loan Applications, Mortgage Lending

At CIBC, we are in business to help our clients, employees and shareholders achieve what is important to them. Our ability to create value for all CIBC stakeholders is driven by a business culture based on common values: Trust, Teamwork and Accountability. Working with CIBC makes you a part of a work environment committed to our clients, employees and communities - a place where you can excel. Every day, our 48,000 employees help our clients achieve their financial goals, because what matters to our clients, matters to us.