CRA and Fair Banking Program Manager

: Come Grow with Us and Join an Award-Winning Organization! Stearns Bank is looking for a CRA and Fair Banking Program Manager. This is a remote-eligible position headquartered out of St. Cloud, Minnesota. JOB SUMMARY: This position is responsible for responsible for developing, implementing, administering, and coordinating all aspects of the Bank's Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) and Fair Lending and Banking program. This individual ensures that the Bank maintains a sound CRA and Fair Banking program that meets regulatory expectations and aligns with the Bank's mission and strategic objectives. This includes managing relationships, including agreements with third parties such as CDFIs. This position will also assist the Associate General Counsel, Sr. Director of Compliance & Audit with compliance matters including areas of consumer protection and banking regulations (deposit, loan, including CRA and HMDA, ID Theft/FACTA/FCRA), marketing and social media compliance regulations, deposit and loan compliance regulations that integrate into marketing content/disclosure and social media material, and customer complaint process. This role involves information of a sensitive and/or highly confidential nature. The position requires exceptional judgment and ability to prioritize and handle matters independently and helps with projects that may be complex. Technological proficiency is important to effective performance of the job. Starting annual salary of $80,000.00. Employment offers will be dependent upon the selected candidate's relevant qualifications and experience.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serves as the Bank's subject matter expert in Fair Lending laws and regulations.
• Manages Fair Lending compliance efforts throughout the Bank and ensures that the Bank's CRA and Fair Banking program is risk-based and appropriate for the size and complexity of the Bank.
• Helps complete periodic Fair Banking/Fair Lending reviews, including ongoing comparative file reviews, marketing reviews and analysis, quality of assistance, exceptions, and redlining reviews, ensuring appropriate remediation occurs, along with maintaining adequate work papers to support findings.
• Establishes and maintains a high degree of knowledge of all applicable laws, rules and regulations and an awareness of the current regulatory environment, working knowledge of current and proposed federal and state banking laws.
• Works with senior management and business units to develop and implement a written CRA and Fair Banking Program.
• Helps update and maintain the Bank's CRA and Fair Banking Program, along with developing the Bank's annual CRA and Fair Banking plan and sets the scope and frequency of monitoring activities.
• Works with management and business units to develop annual CRA goals and objectives based upon the Bank's identified strategic priorities and initiatives.
• Serves as the primary point of contact during Fair Lending and CRA examinations and audits, including advance preparation, follow-up on issues and observations, and development of written responses as needed.
• Monitors and stays abreast of the changing regulatory landscape, including interpretations of Unfair, Deceptive and Abusive Acts or Practices, to ensure the Bank's activities remain compliant with fair and responsible banking principles.
• Ensures that the Bank's CRA activities are tracked, analyzed, modified, and communicated as necessary.
• Collects and reports CRA and 1071 data, ensures data integrity and maintains the Bank's CRA Public File.
• Monitors and reports on the Bank's activities in meeting the credit needs of the Bank's defined CRA assessment areas and encourages and tracks employee participation in CRA eligible activities.
• Prepares and reports to senior management and if needed, the Board of Directors on the status of the Bank's efforts to meet its CRA/Fair Banking goals and objectives, the level and direction of Fair Lending risk, emerging trends or issues, along with the status of any remediation efforts.
• Reviews and analyzes the geographic distribution of loan products, deposit products, investments, and services.
• Represents the Bank by establishing relationships with community leaders and others that will assist the Bank in determining the needs of the communities within its assessment areas.
• Coordinates the implementation of policies, procedures, and program enhancements to meet regulatory obligations while actively seeking areas for improved efficiencies.
• Participates in new and existing product development and provides input regarding CRA and Fair Banking concerns relevant to proposed and current products and services offered by the Bank.
• Maintains proficient knowledge of rules and regulations relating to the Community Reinvestment Act, Fair Lending laws and regulations, including Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA), UDAAP and other related laws, regulations, guidance.
• Assist with community development initiatives that align with the Community Reinvestment Act and business objectives to sustain satisfactory lending test performance with a specific focus on lending for low to moderate income (LMI) individuals and geographies.
• Assist in coordination and support of compliance audits and examinations as requested.
• Serve as a resource person for bank team members.
• Loss prevention and security as applicable for this position.
• Oversees and assists with Fair Lending training for employees, senior management, and the Board of Directors, including the completion of all required training and the development and delivery of any customized training as needed.
• Assist with other compliance tasks and projects as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, business, finance or related field from four-year college or university; or 8 years related field and/or equivalent years of experience.
• 8 years Regulatory Compliance experience related to CRA/CDFI, and Fair Lending.
• Strong and effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communications skills. involving motivating, influencing, educating and/or advising others on matters of significance.
• Advanced skills in MS Office applications including Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Word and preferred experience with specialized Fair Lending software and analytic tools, such as Marquis/Centrax.
• Preferred experience performing CRA and Fair Lending risk assessments, comparative file reviews, redlining analysis, and other monitoring activities.
• Working knowledge of federal and state regulatory guidelines and standards for compliance laws including CRA, lending, deposit and general compliance regulations.
• Well-organized, efficient, detail-oriented, self-starter, with ability to work independently, but also to engage in effective project management.
• Well-developed written, verbal, and analytical skills.
• Proficiency in speaking Spanish is a plus.
• Able to exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality.
• Reporting experience to deliver concise information that can be and easily interpreted by all relevant parties.
• Comfortable making presentations to executive and senior management.
• Ability to interpret regulations and laws and disseminate information.
• Ability to lead an internal team to develop and execute Fair Lending strategic plans and manage multiple complex projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Occasional attendance at CRA and/or Fair Lending training programs to remain current with changing regulations and requirements and effectively implement any new and changing regulatory requirements.
• Occasional travel may be required.

THE COMPANY

Founded in 1912, Stearns Financial Services Inc. (SFSI) is a $2.4 billion well-capitalized, independent financial holding company based in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Specializing in nationwide small business lending and equipment financing, Stearns has maintained outstanding customer service, fast decisions, and customized finance solutions to their customers for decades.

Stearns Bank has earned itself a stellar reputation amongst customers and competitors alike. This reputation goes beyond just word-of-mouth, as Stearns has been recognized by the Independent Community Banker's Association (ICBA) as a top-performing bank in the nation based on a 3-year average Return on Assets for banks $1 billion or more. Stearns has also been recognized by American Banker as a top-performing bank in the nation over a 3-year period for Return on Equity for banks from $2 billion to $10 billion.

As a Star Tribune Top Workplaces award recipient and an award recipient of the Minnesota Business Magazine 100 Best Places to Work in Minnesota, Stearns takes pride in their team and holds their employees in extremely high regard. We offer a competitive salary and benefit package including our Employee Stock Ownership Program-one of the best long-term incentive programs in the nation.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER /AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLAN

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, or creed, religion, sex, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran's status, status with regard to public assistance, or any other class protected by Federal, State, local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.