Chief Credit Officer

Chief Credit Officer (CCO)

Location: Eastern Houston, TX Area (Relocation may be available for the right candidate.)

A growing community bank with a strong commitment to sound credit administration, relationship banking, and long‑term growth is seeking a Chief Credit Officer (CCO) to lead its credit risk management function. This organization has established a reputation for prudent lending practices, local decision‑making, and exceptional service to businesses and individuals throughout its markets.

The Chief Credit Officer serves as the Bank’s senior credit executive and is responsible for the overall administration, governance, and independent oversight of the credit risk management function. This executive will play a critical role in maintaining the quality of the loan portfolio, ensuring regulatory compliance, and supporting the Bank’s continued growth through disciplined credit leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the Bank’s senior credit executive with oversight responsibility for credit risk management, ensuring lending practices align with Board‑approved risk appetite, Loan Policy, and regulatory safety and soundness expectations
• Oversee credit underwriting and credit approval functions, ensuring consistency, documentation quality, and adherence to policy and regulatory requirements
• Establish and administer loan approval authorities and credit approval limits, subject to oversight by the Directors’ Loan Review Committee
• Review and approve significant credit exposures within delegated authority and evaluate borrower financial condition, repayment capacity, and credit structure
• Partner directly with lenders to appropriately structure credit facilities and approve credit memoranda prior to presentation to the Directors’ Loan Review Committee
• Monitor overall portfolio quality, including risk grading, concentrations, emerging risks, industry exposures, and adverse credit trends
• Maintain responsibility for the Bank’s Watch List credits and criticized/classified asset monitoring processes, ensuring timely identification and reporting of problem loans
• Review and approve loan workout strategies and remediation plans for troubled credits
• Prepare and present regular reports to executive management, the Board of Directors, and the Directors’ Loan Review Committee regarding portfolio performance, asset quality, concentrations, classified assets, past‑due loans, and overall credit risk exposure
• Maintain ownership of the Bank’s Loan Policy and related credit standards, recommending revisions and ensuring consistent implementation throughout the organization
• Manage day‑to‑day Credit Department operations, including credit approval workflows, exception tracking, concentration monitoring, and portfolio reviews
• Supervise, mentor, and develop credit analysts and credit administration personnel while fostering a strong credit culture centered on sound judgment, independence, and regulatory compliance
• Oversee the Bank’s Current Expected Credit Losses (CECL) process, including allowance analysis, methodology governance, data integrity, assumptions, and documentation
• Direct portfolio stress testing activities and evaluate the impact of economic and portfolio scenarios on asset quality and capital
• Coordinate independent third‑party loan review engagements, including scope development, management responses, remediation tracking, and reporting of findings
• Coordinate independent third‑party CECL model validations and oversee governance, remediation efforts, and Board reporting
• Serve as the primary management contact during regulatory examinations, internal audits, and external loan review activities related to credit risk management
• Recommend appropriate underwriting standards, credit policies, and portfolio risk tolerances for Board approval
• Ensure lenders operate within assigned approval authorities and promptly escape exceptions or emerging concerns
• Identify and report trends that could contribute to delinquencies, non‑performing assets, or charge‑offs
• Ensure compliance with all applicable banking laws, regulations, and internal policies, including BSA, OFAC, FDCPA, information security, and physical security requirements
• Identify and communicate underwriting, documentation, or credit administration deficiencies to executive management in a timely manner
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field required; Master’s degree preferred
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive credit administration, credit risk management, or senior lending experience within a community bank, regional bank, large financial institution, or finance company
• Demonstrated expertise in commercial credit underwriting, portfolio management, and credit risk governance
• Extensive experience approving and managing complex commercial real estate (CRE), commercial and industrial (C&I), SBA, corporate, and construction lending relationships
• Strong understanding of loan portfolio management, concentration monitoring, stress testing, asset quality trends, and risk appetite frameworks
• Experience overseeing CECL methodology, allowance analysis, model governance, and validation processes
• Prior experience working with regulatory examinations and developing policies, procedures, and risk management frameworks
• Thorough knowledge of regulatory compliance requirements and safety and soundness standards
• Ability to lead and develop teams with varying levels of experience while mentoring junior credit professionals
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making capabilities
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively interact with executive leadership, Boards of Directors, regulators, customers, and lending teams
• Ability to balance risk management objectives with business development goals while supporting customer needs
• Strong working knowledge of collections, credit administration, and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) requirements
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and maintain a high level of professional integrity

Additional Information

This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced credit executive seeking a leadership role with a growing community bank that values disciplined risk management, strategic growth, and strong customer relationships. The position offers significant visibility within the organization and the opportunity to directly influence the Bank’s long‑term success. Relocation assistance may be available for qualified candidates seeking to join this thriving institution.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Agency Recruiting follows Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) guidelines and considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.