Loan Officer

AgCarolina Farm Credit; Carolina (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base pay

Incentive pay eligibility

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

AgCarolina Farm Credit is seeking a Loan Officer in Burgaw, NC to originate and service loans for consumer and commercial borrowers in Pender and New Hanover counties. You will market financial services, manage a loan portfolio, and build relationships with members in rural communities.

The role emphasizes mentorship, timely decision-making, and adherence to fair lending practices as part of our commitment to agriculture and local growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in business, finance, accounting, or agricultural economics.
• 2–5 years of related lending experience; agricultural lending preferred.
• Strong analytical, judgment, and communication skills.
• Able to be assertive and decisive in decisions.
• Strong interpersonal, sales, and negotiating skills.
• Ability to travel within and outside AgCarolina's territory for training.
• Agricultural background preferred.

Responsibilities

• Actively participate and seek lending relationships with existing and new customers.
• Market and sell Association financial services including loans, leasing and preferred stock.
• Interview applicants and analyze credit and financial data using the five credit factors and differential analysis.
• Use delegated authority to approve loan structures, pricing, and conditions.
• Evaluate risk of loan transactions and assign probability of default and loss given default.
• Provide On-Farm Service for existing members.
• Prospect and Market Centers of Influence, Realtors and Farmer/Ranches in our markets.
• Ensure loans comply with Association policies and procedures.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Judgment

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Sales & negotiation

Travel ability

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in business/finance/agricultural economics

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION
Loan Officer - Burgaw, NC
Are you passionate about supporting agriculture and rural communities? Do you thrive in a relationship-driven environment where your analytical skills and customer service make a real impact? If so, we want to hear from you!
As a Loan Officer at AgCarolina Farm Credit, you'll play a key role in originating and servicing loans, marketing financial services, and developing strong relationships with borrowers in both the commercial and consumer markets. You'll work independently to manage a loan portfolio while contributing to the growth of our Association. As a Loan Officer in the Burgaw branch, you will serve both consumer and commercial borrowers primarily in Pender and New Hanover counties. You'll be part of a culture that values mentorship, candid conversations, attention to detail, and timely decision-making-all in service of agriculture and rural communities.

What You'll Do:

• Actively participate and seek lending relationships with existing and new customers
• Market and sell Association financial services including loans, leasing and preferred stock
• Coordinate applications for branch-referred new and existing customers
• Interview applicants and analyze credit and financial data using the five credit factors and differential analysis
• Use delegated authority to approve loan structures, pricing, and conditions
• Evaluate risk of loan transactions and assign probability of default and loss given default
• Ensure loans comply with Association policies and procedures
• Collaborate effectively with team members and neighboring departments
• Remain active in community and industry events
• Demonstrate a commitment to fair lending practices
• Build and maintain positive working relationships to enhance the Association's reputation
• Provide On-Farm Service for existing members
• Prospect and Market Centers of Influence, Realtors and Farmer/Ranches in our markets

What We Value:

• Customer Focus - Building strong relationships through responsiveness and professionalism
• Collaboration - Working closely with your team and other departments to deliver exceptional service
• Excellence - Bringing precision, organization, and integrity to everything you do
• Growth - Enjoying opportunities for development, innovation, and meaningful contribution

What We're Looking For:

• Education and/or experience equivalent to a Bachelor's degree in business, finance, accounting, or agricultural economics
• 2 to 5 years of related lending experience and/or proven performance, agricultural lending experience preferred
• Strong analytical, judgment, and communication (oral and written) skills
• Ability to be assertive and decisive in making sound business decisions
• Strong interpersonal, sales, and negotiating skills
• Ability to handle high-stress situations professionally
• Intermediate computer skills in Microsoft Office and Outlook
• Ability to travel within and outside AgCarolina's territory for training
• Quick learner, adaptable, and strong problem solver
• Agricultural background preferred
• Lending experience preferred

Our Commitment:

• Competitive base pay, and eligibility for incentive pay based on personal and Association performance
• Comprehensive benefits (medical, dental, life, LTD, and others) effective the first day of the month following your date of hire
• Maternity, Paternity, and Caregiving Leave, because we care about our employees and know they have responsibilities outside of work
• A market-leading 401(k) plan (with a dollar-for-dollar match on the first 6% you defer, plus an AgCarolina discretionary contribution)
• Paid Time Off, plus 13 paid holidays annually
• Training and professional development opportunities, and defined career pathways for many roles
• Meaningful work that allows one to make a difference in agricultural and rural communities and to develop professionally
• Opportunities for work-life balance that includes employee appreciation and family events
• A great work environment with colleagues who have a shared commitment to our core values
• Opportunities for everyone to think and act like a leader, regardless of the position you hold
• A comprehensive wellness plan: we recognize that our greatest asset is our people-and for our people to perform at their best, they must be healthy and well.

AgCarolina Individual Competencies:

• Communicates Effectively
• Action-Oriented
• Makes Good Decisions
• Collaborates
• Focuses on Our Members
• Welcomes Everyone and Treats Them Fairly
• Leadership

Internal candidates must have at least 2 years of Farm Credit experience, a Fully Successful rating or higher on their most recent performance review and have been in their current role for at least 2 years before applying.

Interview Process:

• Phone Screen with AgCarolina HR Representative
• In-person interview

Equal Opportunity Employer/including Disabled/Veterans. AgCarolina is unable to sponsor employment visas at this time.

ABOUT US

AgCarolina Farm Credit is the largest ag lending cooperative operating in North Carolina with a local presence throughout the territory. The Association has approximately $3.1 billion in gross loan volume, serving more than 6,000 members.

Our purpose at AgCarolina Farm Credit (ACA) is to serve the agricultural industry and our rural communities, yielding a more prosperous future for all. We are committed to providing constructive credit and financial services to grow the success of our members, one local relationship at a time.

We believe that an inclusive team of employees is the best way to serve our agricultural and agribusiness customers. AgCarolina refers to our diversity initiatives as inclusion initiatives. With inclusion, we seek to involve all employees, management team, and board in fostering an environment that encourages and acknowledges the positive contributions individuals from all backgrounds can make in the success of our organization. By embracing and leveraging our unique strengths we establish ourselves as a positive corporate citizen and an employer of choice.

We are committed to attracting and developing an outstanding team of employees and supporting each one to achieve his or her full potential. Our success at AgCarolina GROWS by:

• Growing our people and association
• Relationships built on respect, trust, and integrity
• Owning responsibility for our attitudes, actions, and job performance
• Welcoming everyone and treating them fairly
• Serving one another, members, and local communities

In addition to our Core Values, AgCarolina has established competencies for employees, leadership, and senior leadership positions. These competencies are designed to provide a clear picture of the daily actions one can take and develop over time to add value to the Association and enhance their professional growth.