Vice President / Senior Lender

Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Springfield

101 North Marshall Avenue,Springfield, MN 56087

Job Description

Position Summary

The Vice President of Loans provides strategic leadership for the Bank’s lending function, ensuring a high-quality, profitable loan portfolio while balancing regulatory requirements, shareholder expectations, and customer needs. This role oversees lending operations, develops lending staff, and serves as a member of the Bank’s senior leadership team.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The Vice President of Loans develops and maintains lending policies that support strong credit quality, profitability, regulatory compliance, and long-term growth. The position monitors economic, agricultural, and commercial trends and recommends lending and risk management strategies that align with the Bank’s objectives. Working closely with senior leadership and the Asset Liability Committee (ALCO), the Vice President helps manage portfolio composition and balance sheet goals, establishes loan pricing strategies, evaluates funding sources, oversees the Allowance for Credit Losses (ACL) process, and communicates significant lending initiatives to leadership and the Board of Directors.

The position directs all lending activities and ensures compliance with Bank policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements. Responsibilities include managing agricultural and commercial loan relationships, identifying new business opportunities, conducting customer visits and annual credit reviews, monitoring portfolio performance, approving credit requests within established authority limits, participating in Loan Committee activities, and preparing reports and recommendations for senior leadership and the Board.

As a leader within the organization, the Vice President coaches and develops lending staff to promote high performance, sound credit practices, and adherence to the Bank’s values. The role provides guidance on credit decisions, portfolio management, agricultural and commercial lending practices, and risk assessment while supporting the recruitment, onboarding, training, and retention of lending personnel.

The Vice President serves as an active member of the senior leadership team, contributing to strategic planning and organizational initiatives. The position regularly presents lending, economic, and strategic information to the Board and leadership team and represents the Bank through participation in community organizations, agricultural associations, business groups, and industry events.

Education & Experience

Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Agriculture, or a related field is preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Graduate School of Banking completion or a willingness to pursue completion is desired. Candidates should possess a minimum of ten years of progressive lending experience, including significant agricultural lending and leadership responsibilities. Strong knowledge of credit administration, agricultural and commercial lending, portfolio management, regulatory compliance, and risk management is required, along with proven leadership, communication, relationship management, analytical, and decision-making skills.

Working Conditions

Work is primarily performed in a professional office environment with periodic travel to customer locations, agricultural operations, community events, and industry meetings. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Career Growth Opportunity

For the right candidate, this position provides a clear succession path to Senior Vice President of Loans, contingent upon demonstrated performance, leadership effectiveness and organizational needs.