Mortgage Loan Officer

Mortgage Loan Officer

First American Bank was founded in Chicago, and over the years has expanded throughout Wisconsin and Florida. As the largest privately held bank in Illinois, we now have over 60 locations and assets of $8+ billion. We are a community bank at heart with international expertise, traditional values, and a forward-looking philosophy. Our employees have the experience and vision to meet the needs of savers, borrowers, and businesses in the 21st century. First American Bank can offer employees a level of visibility, career growth, and stability that is difficult to find in many larger corporations.

The Mortgage Loan Officer originates residential mortgage loans while building and maintaining relationships with customers, referral partners, and community organizations to drive business growth. This position serves as a trusted advisor, helping customers navigate the home financing process by identifying lending solutions that align with their financial goals and homeownership objectives. As a highly relationship-driven role, the Mortgage Loan Officer spends the majority of their time in the field developing new business opportunities and expanding First American Bank's presence within the communities it serves.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Independently originate residential mortgage loans by interviewing applicants, taking loan applications, conducting preliminary underwriting reviews, and submitting complete loan packages to processing and underwriting for approval.
• Conduct comprehensive consultations with prospective and existing customers to assess their financial circumstances, homeownership goals, borrowing needs, income, assets, liabilities, and credit history to identify appropriate lending solutions.
• Recommend mortgage products and lending strategies that align with customer objectives while providing guidance throughout the mortgage application, underwriting, and closing process.
• Maintain an active pipeline of mortgage opportunities by documenting customer interactions, monitoring loan progress, obtaining required documentation, and ensuring timely follow-up throughout the lending process.
• Collaborate with internal business partners to deliver a seamless customer experience and identify opportunities to expand customer relationships through referrals to other Bank products and services.
• Develop and maintain relationships with referral sources, including real estate professionals, builders, attorneys, financial advisors, and other community partners to generate new business opportunities and increase mortgage production.
• Develop and execute a business development strategy for an assigned territory to acquire new customers, strengthen referral partnerships, expand existing relationships, and achieve established sales goals.
• Actively market mortgage lending services through networking, community involvement, referrals, prospecting, and other sales and promotional activities to increase brand awareness and business growth.
• Perform sales-related activities primarily outside of Bank locations, including customer meetings, networking events, referral partner visits, and community outreach initiatives.
• Maintain a visible presence within the community to promote homeownership opportunities, strengthen referral networks, and represent First American Bank in a professional manner.
• 80%+ of work time is spent outside of Bank locations conducting business development, networking, customer meetings, and sales activities.
• Conduct and complete additional assignments/projects as designated by management.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• This position requires the individual to take loan applications and close loans.
• This position will require the employee to register and maintain registration with the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System & Registry (NMLS).
• Minimum of three years of mortgage loan origination experience required, including a demonstrated ability to develop referral relationships, generate new business, and manage a residential mortgage pipeline.
• Strong knowledge of residential mortgage products, mortgage pricing, underwriting guidelines, and the mortgage loan process from application through closing.
• Experience analyzing borrower financial information, credit profiles, income documentation, and assets to determine appropriate lending solutions and assess loan eligibility.
• Thorough understanding of applicable federal and state mortgage lending regulations, including TILA, RESPA, HMDA, ECOA, and Fair Lending requirements.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and maintain a high-volume pipeline in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to educate borrowers on mortgage products, loan requirements, and the documentation necessary to successfully complete the mortgage application and approval process.
• Strong verbal communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to effectively interact with borrowers, real estate professionals, builders, attorneys, title companies, and internal business partners.
• Demonstrated ability to tailor communications to diverse audiences, translating complex mortgage, financial, and underwriting concepts into clear and understandable information.
• Strong written communication skills with the ability to prepare professional correspondence and maintain accurate loan documentation while adhering to high standards of grammar, spelling, and professionalism.
• Ability to establish credibility and trust through a professional demeanor, consultative sales approach, and commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience.
• Maintain positive working relationships with internal and external partners by exhibiting strong interpersonal skills, collaboration, and a solutions-focused approach.
• Use sound professional judgment to balance customer needs, regulatory requirements, and organizational objectives while effectively identifying and mitigating risk.
• Demonstrated business development and networking skills, including the ability to cultivate referral sources, generate new business opportunities, and proactively follow up with prospective customers.
• Ability to communicate technical mortgage lending concepts, underwriting requirements, and loan program eligibility criteria to both financial and non-financial audiences.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams, with the ability to effectively prepare, review, and manage loan-related documents, reports, and communications.
• Experience using Mortgage Loan Origination Systems (LOS) and related mortgage lending technologies required; previous experience with MortgageBot preferred but not required.
• Demonstrates a basic understanding of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its use as a productivity and business-support tool. Willingly learns and adopts approved AI-enabled tools to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness in daily work activities.
• Exercises professional judgment when leveraging AI-enabled tools by validating outputs for accuracy and relevance and maintaining proficiency through ongoing learning and adherence to organizational AI policies and guidelines.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new systems, technologies, and workflows, and to effectively adapt to system enhancements, upgrades, and process changes.
• This position requires extensive travel, with approximately 80% of work time spent away from Bank locations cultivating referral sources, meeting with customers, developing new business opportunities, and conducting sales and networking activities. Travel is primarily local, although occasional overnight and out-of-state travel may be required for training, conferences, meetings, and other business purposes.
• Typical schedule is Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Additional hours may be required depending upon business need.
• Punctuality is required to maintain First American Bank's customer service standards.