Retail Credit Officer

Description

The Retail Credit Officer supports the Chief Credit Officer in maintaining the overall quality, consistency, and performance of the consumer loan portfolio. The position provides underwriting expertise, approves loans within delegated authority, monitors portfolio risk trends, and promotes sound credit administration practices. This role serves as a resource to lenders and staff, reinforces policy adherence, and supports regulatory readiness through strong documentation, analytics, and communication.

• Reports to the Chief Credit Officer, other Senior Leaders, and Bank Board of Directors regarding any material considerations affecting the loan portfolio, loan policy, and individual loan transactions.
• Monitors trends in delinquencies, charge-offs, exceptions, and risk rating migration; escalates adverse trends to executive management.
• Underwrites and approves loans under delegated authority. Ensures consistency of credit presentations, risk identification, and policy adherence across lenders and analysts.
• Provides structuring guidance to lenders and analysts to improve credit quality, collateral protection, and repayment sources.
• In conjunction with CCO, serves as a point of contact for internal audit, external audit, and regulatory examinations for assigned lending areas.
• Coaches Retail Lenders and other credit department analysts in credit fundamentals, structuring, and risk identification specific to retail lending.
• Assists in onboarding and training new lending/credit personnel (as applicable).
• Supports implementation and optimization of credit systems and analysis tools.
• Helps manage pipeline reporting and prioritization of credit requests.
• Assists Chief Credit Officer in developing and maintaining credit related policy and procedures.
• Communicates credit decisions, conditions, and rationale clearly to lending staff.
• Prepares summary reports and dashboards for management and the Board as needed.

This job description is not designed to be an exhaustive list of duties. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may

change at any time with or without notice.

• Stays current, maintains knowledge of, and complies with all F & M products and services and policies and procedures.
• Maintains organized files and a neat and orderly work area and secures all negotiable and/or confidential records.
• Protects the bank's and customers' information; knowledge of customers and their relationship with the Bank must be kept in absolute confidence.
• Displays a positive, cooperative spirit; professionalism; and a responsible attitude to staff and customers always.
• Leads by example while being a team player.
• Participates in Bank-sponsored and other community/civic events as schedule allows.
• Represents F & M Bank professionally and courteously while in contact with the public either in person or by telephone.
• Pursues personal development opportunities to improve knowledge as it relates to position, compliance, and the bank in general.

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, skills, and/or abilities needed to fulfill the role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret complex financial documents.
• Ability to respond to sensitive inquiries.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to perform duties using credit analysis software.
• Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work with limited supervision.
• Ability to work with and maintain confidential information.
• Ability to lead and develop a diverse group of subordinates.
• Ability to supervise others ensuring work is completed.
• Ability to delegate work to subordinates.
• Possess the necessary skills or the willingness to cross train to support the remainder of the Credit Administration team.
• Possess effective interpersonal skills to relate to customers and employees.
• Profici…