Chief Credit Officer

Chief Credit Officer

American Federal is looking for a visionary Chief Credit Officer to join our executive leadership team. This critical role will direct the Bank's credit risk strategy, portfolio management, and credit administration functions while balancing growth, profitability, and asset quality. The ideal candidate is an experienced banking leader who excels at building high-performing teams, navigating complex credit environments, and fostering a strong culture of risk management and client-focused decision-making.

Essential Roles and Responsibilities

• Establish and lead the Bank's overall credit risk management framework.
• Develop and execute strategies that balance portfolio growth, profitability, and risk management.
• Serve as the primary executive responsible for the quality and performance of the loan portfolio.
• Monitor credit concentrations, industry trends, economic conditions, emerging risks, and portfolio trends.
• Manage action plans to minimize charge-offs, credit losses, and non-performing assets.
• Ensure appropriate risk ratings, underwriting standards, and credit administration practices are consistently applied throughout the organization.
• Provide regular portfolio performance reporting and recommendations to executive management and Board of Directors.

• Develop, maintain, and administer all Credit Policies and Procedures.
• Recommend policy changes to executive management and the Board of Directors.
• Monitor regulatory changes and ensure compliance with all applicable banking regulations and regulatory guidance.
• Oversee the Bank's Loan Review Program and independent credit quality assessments.
• Serve as the primary executive liaison for credit-related examinations conducted by regulatory agencies and external auditors.
• Ensure legal lending requirements, collateral perfection standards, and documentation requirements are met.
• Maintain a strong governance framework that supports safe and sound banking practices.

• Lead processes that support effective credit underwriting, approval, monitoring, renewal, and collection activities.
• Oversee annual reviews, risk rating administration, covenant compliance monitoring, and problem loan management.
• Provide oversight of capital market activities, ensuring that credit exposure aligns with the Bank's risk parameters
• Ensure effective management of criticized and classified assets.
• Direct development and enhancement of credit analysis tools, portfolio reporting systems, and credit technologies.
• Support business line growth initiatives while maintaining acceptable risk parameters.
• Provide guidance on large, complex, or high-risk credit relationships.

• Lead and develop the Credit Department and related functions.
• Recruit, mentor, and retain high-performing credit professionals.
• Establish performance expectations and accountability within the credit organization.
• Foster a strong risk management culture across the Bank.
• Conduct succession planning and leadership development activities for key credit personnel.
• Promote collaboration among lending, sales, operations, finance, compliance, and executive teams.

• Serve as the Bank's subject matter expert for commercial, agricultural, consumer, and specialty lending.
• Develop and implement ongoing credit training programs.
• Work with sales leadership to develop and implement target industries for future growth that aligns with Bank's risk profile
• Coach lenders and bankers on underwriting, structuring, and portfolio management.
• Support Market Presidents and lending teams with complex credit opportunities.
• Participate in significant customer meetings and business development activities.
• Provide strategic credit guidance that supports prudent growth and client relationship development.

• Present credit portfolio performance, risk trends, and policy recommendations to the Board of Directors and Board Committees.
• Prepare and present annual credit risk assessments and strategic credit initiatives.
• Recommend portfolio strategies in response to economic, industry, and market developments.

Qualifications

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, finance, accounting, or a related field required. MBA or JD is a plus
• Seven plus years of increasingly responsible experience focusing on commercial, agricultural, and consumer credit
• Minimum five years direct line lending experience is preferred
• Strong background in credit administration, portfolio management, loan review and regulatory compliance
• Excellent presentation, customer relations, interpersonal, communication, organizational, delegation, and team building skills
• Proven ability to influence executive leadership, regulators, and Board members
• Personal computer skills. Word, Excel and Lotus Notes experience
• Positive, proactive attitude, leadership skills and a commitment to American Federal values