VP - Business Banking Lender

Peoplesbank; Holyoke (MA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

PeoplesBank seeks a VP - Business Banking Lender to lead senior lending activities across the customer lifecycle, including credit analysis, loan structuring, underwriting coordination and portfolio oversight.

You will collaborate with Business Banking, Credit, Operations and Sales to drive sound decisions, exceptional client service, and efficient workflows while supporting growth in medium and small business lending.

Qualifications

• Requires a four-year degree plus 5–7 years of relevant experience.
• Extensive knowledge of commercial and small business lending and credit.
• Experience structuring credit facilities balancing client needs with risk and profitability.
• Ability to partner with cross-functional teams including Sales and Administration.
• Experience using technology to streamline lending workflows and customer experience.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary credit and lending resource for Business Development Officers (BDOs) and Banking Center Managers (BCMs).
• Partner with BDOs and BCMs to evaluate customer opportunities and identify appropriate lending solutions.
• Assist in structuring credit facilities that balance customer needs with Bank profitability and risk management objectives.
• Participate in customer meetings as a business lending subject matter expert when needed.
• Provide guidance on complex credit requests, policy interpretation, and loan structure recommendations.
• Support the Sales team throughout the sales, underwriting, approval, closing, and portfolio management processes.

Skills

C&I lending

Small business lending

Credit analysis

Portfolio management

Cross-functional collaboration

Lending technology

Automated decisioning

SBA lending

Process improvement

Education

Four-year degree

5-7 years experience

Tools

Commercial LOS

CRM

MS Office

Job description

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VP - Business Banking Lender

Business Banking Hartford, CT, US

Salary Range: $125,000.00 To $140,000.00 Annually

Welcome to PeoplesBank! We are the largest mutually chartered bank in Western Mass and Northern Connecticut, we are proud to lead the way in green values, sustainable energy financing, and charitable giving. Our commitment to operating in the best interest of our customers is matched by our dedication to fostering an inclusive and engaging work environment. We offer excellent compensation, workplace flexibility, and a competitive benefits package to our associates. Our award-winning culture has earned us recognition as the Best Place to Work and Best Local Bank. Join our team of dedicated and innovative individuals and be a part of our dynamic, successful organization. Let's make a difference together!

Position Summary:

Under the direction of the Senior Vice President of Business Banking, the VP- Business Banking Lender acts as a senior business banking and small business lending professional, providing strategic and operational support across the sales, credit, and administration functions throughout the customer lifecycle. This role delivers expertise in credit analysis, loan structuring, underwriting coordination, portfolio management, and customer experience initiatives, while fostering collaboration between Business Banking, Credit, Operations, and Sales teams. The position also serves as a key resource and advisor, helping to drive sound credit decisions, operational efficiency, and exceptional client service.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary credit and lending resource for Business Development Officers (BDOs) and Banking Center Managers (BCMs)
• Partner with BDOs and BCMs to evaluate customer opportunities and identify appropriate lending solutions.
• Assist in structuring credit facilities that balance customer needs with Bank profitability and risk management objectives.
• Participate in customer meetings as a business lending subject matter expert when needed.
• Provide guidance on complex credit requests, policy interpretation, and loan structure recommendations.
• Support the Sales team throughout the sales, underwriting, approval, closing, and portfolio management processes.

Credit and Administration Team Support

• Review loan opportunities and supporting financial information to ensure complete and well-structured credit packages prior to submission to credit team.
• Act as a liaison between Business Banking and Sales to promote effective communication and timely credit decisions.
• Assist with financial analysis and loan structure recommendations.
• Acts as backup to and supports the credit team with credit analysis, covenant reviews, risk rating recommendations, policy exceptions, and credit-related issue resolution.
• Identify opportunities to improve workflow efficiency, application quality, and approval turnaround times.

Customer Experience Leadership

• Responsible for providing an exceptional customer experience throughout the lending and onboarding process in collaboration with the BDO and/or BCM.
• Ensure customer expectations are proactively managed and communicated regarding timelines, documentation requirements, and loan decisions.
• Monitor pipeline activity to identify and resolve obstacles that may delay customer requests.
• Serve as an escalation point for complex customer service issues related to business lending relationships.
• Promote consistency in customer service standards, lending practices, and risk management principles.

Portfolio Oversight and Risk Management

• Support the credit team with the ongoing management and monitoring of the Business Banking loan portfolio.
• Assist with portfolio reviews, annual reviews, renewals, and covenant testing.
• Identify emerging risks and collaborate with Relationship Managers and Credit Administration to develop action plans when necessary.
• Support efforts to maintain strong portfolio performance and minimize credit losses.
• Completes all yearly compliance training and testing and complies with bank, federal, and state regulations. Complies with Bank Policies and Procedures. Adheres to departmental and bank-wide CARE standards.
• Other duties may be assigned

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Education and/or Experience: Generally, requires a four-year degree plus a minimum 5-7 years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Skills needed:

• Exceptional knowledge of C&I and/or small business lending and/or credit experience
• Demonstrated experience analyzing and structuring commercial and small business credit transactions
• Experience managing a commercial or small business banking portfolio
• Experience partnering with cross-functional teams including Sales and Administration
• Experience using technology to improve processes, lending workflows and customer experience
• Experience working with automated lending and decisioning platforms preferred
• Experience with SBA lending programs strongly preferred.
• Strong system and procedural management skills

Computer Skills:

Commercial LOS, CRM, MS Office

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

The working conditions and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the associate is regularly required to sit, use hands to sort, write and keyboard, and to listen and speak. The associate is frequently required to reach, walk, stoop, crouch. The associate is occasionally required to stand, lift, bend, drive and travel.