Specialty Lending, Credit Associate

Citizens; Johnston (RI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Citizens Private Bank in Johnston, RI, seeks a Credit Associate to support relationship banking by underwriting and analyzing credit for UHNW clients. You will manage the end-to-end loan process, from inquiry to closing, coordinating with Credit Officers and portfolio managers to ensure credit quality.

The role requires strong analytical skills, knowledge of lending products, and adherence to regulatory standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, or related field.
• MBA is a plus.
• 3–5+ years of credit risk experience in financial services with specialty lending/SBL is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and approve lending requests for private banking/UHNW clients, including specialty lending products.
• Maintain a high level of quality control for verifying accuracy of financial and loan documents.
• Manage end-to-end loan process from inquiry through closing, including presenting loan to Credit Officer for approval and coordinating closing.
• Monitor pipeline to ensure timely closings and efficient loan workflow.
• Review financial statements, credit history, and other documentation to assess creditworthiness and determine lending terms.
• Maintain ongoing dialogue with existing borrowers and advise on loan structures.
• Stay current on Citizens Private Bank’s lending products and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with investment advisors and trust services to deliver lending solutions.
• Ensure all lending activities comply with internal policies and regulatory standards.

Skills

Credit risk analysis

Financial modeling

Communication with clients

Relationship management

Credit policy knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in finance or related field

MBA preferred

Tools

Credit analysis tools

Banking software

Origination systems

Job description

Description

As a Private Bank, Specialty Lending Credit Associate at Citizens Private Bank, you will work with the relationship banking team to provide credit solutions tailored to clients' needs and circumstances. Primary focused on client’s lending transactions, underwriting, and credit analysis in line with the Citizens Private Bank’s credit policy and guidelines, and regulatory requirements. Responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the underwriting/analysis. Working with credit risk officer, relationship manager, and portfolio management, the Credit Associate is responsible for managing the end-to-end process from relationship banking team hand-off, working work credit risk officer to recommend loan for credit approval, funding, closing, and working with portfolio management to maintain credit quality. They are the main POC for all internal/external parties to lending transactions while keeping the relationship management team in the loop on transactions, pipeline, and portfolio performance.

Job Responsibilities

• Evaluate and approve lending requests for private banking/UHNW clients, including specialty lending credit products such as custom lending, partner lending, and SBL.
• Knowledgeable on Citizens Private Bank's credit policy, lending origination systems, and regulatory requirements involved in private bank lending.
• Maintenance of a high level of quality control for verifying accuracy of financial and loan documents.
• Manages end-to-end loan process with clients, internal/external partners from inquiry through post-closing (e.g., presents loan to Credit Officer for approval, locks & submits loans, collects conditions, assists with closing coordination and any post-closing requests).
• Monitors pipeline to ensure loan workflow is efficient and meeting closing deadlines. investment-related financing.
• Review financial statements, credit history, and other documentation to assess creditworthiness and recommend lending terms.
• Maintain an ongoing dialogue with existing borrowing clients.
• Advise, negotiate and execute loan structures.
• Stay current on Citizen’s Private Bank’s lending products, regulatory requirements, and market conditions.
• Work with other Private Bank teams, investment advisors, and trust services to deliver lending solutions.
• Ensure all lending activities comply with internal policies, regulatory standards, and fiduciary obligations.

Required Qualifications, Capabilities, Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, business, or a related field. MBA will be considered an asset.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities to interact with clients and colleagues.
• Proficiency in financial modeling, credit analysis tools, and banking software.
• Ability to handle sensitive client information with discretion and integrity.
• 3-5+ years of credit risk experience, ideally in the financial services industry with experience in specialty lending, custom lending, or securities-based lending (SBL)
• In-depth knowledge of bank loan, deposit, mortgage and credit products
• Ability to understand the overall credit capabilities and risk management philosophy of the firm
• Experience and proven success with banking concepts including, but not limited to: marketable secured lending, investment real estate loans, concentrated collateral loans, aircraft lending, owner-occupied commercial real estate and bridge loans

Work Structure:

-Full-Time Position; Monday-Friday

-40 Hours

-4 days in office/1 day work from home in one of the required location(s) listed

Pay Transparency

The salary range for this position is $85,000.00 - $115,000.00 per year, plus an opportunity to earn an annual discretionary bonus. Actual pay is based on various factors including but not limited to the budget, work location, and relevant skills and experience.

We offer competitive pay, comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, maternity/paternity leave, flexible work arrangements, education reimbursement, wellness programs and more. Note, Citizens’ paid time off policy exceeds the mandatory, paid sick or paid time-away policy of every local and state jurisdiction in the United States. For an overview of our benefits, visit https://jobs.citizensbank.com/benefits .

Some job boards have started using jobseeker-reported data to estimate salary ranges for roles.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Citizens, its parent, subsidiaries, and related companies (Citizens) provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all colleagues and applicants for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, citizenship, physical or mental disability, perceived disability or history or record of a disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, genetic characteristic, marital or domestic partner status, victim of domestic violence, family status/parenthood, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, pregnancy/childbirth/lactation, colleague’s or a dependent’s reproductive health decision making, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by federal, state and/or local laws. At Citizens, we are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that enables all colleagues to bring their best selves to work every day and everyone is expected to be treated with respect and professionalism. Employment decisions are based solely on merit, qualifications, performance and capability.

Why Work for Us

At Citizens, you'll find a customer-centric culture built around helping our customers and giving back to our local communities. When you join our team, you are part of a supportive and collaborative workforce, with access to training and tools to accelerate your potential and maximize your career growth

Background Check

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the candidate successfully passing a background check, which may include initial credit, motor vehicle record, public record, prior employment verification, and criminal background checks. Results of the background check are individually reviewed based upon legal requirements imposed by our regulators and with consideration of the nature and gravity of the background history and the job offered. Any offer of employment will include further information.

09/30/2026