Regional Credit Officer

Summary:

The Regional Credit Officer is responsible for providing strategic credit leadership and oversight across an assigned portfolio of markets, ensuring asset quality, sound risk management, and sustainable portfolio growth. Working closely with Market and Community Presidents, Bankers, and executive leadership, this role serves as a trusted advisor in balancing prudent credit decisions with the Bank's growth objectives and commitment to exceptional client service.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Partner with Relationship Managers, Community and Market Presidents, and senior leadership to make timely, sound credit decisions that align with the Bank's risk appetite, strategic objectives, and commitment to exceptional client service.
• Serve as a senior credit advisor, providing independent analysis and guidance on complex commercial, consumer, CRE, and C&I relationships, including underwriting, structuring, approval, and ongoing portfolio management.
• Credit Risk Committee and provide leadership in identifying, assessing, and mitigating credit risk across the assigned portfolio and market footprint.
• Conduct comprehensive evaluations of borrowers, guarantors, repayment capacity, collateral, industry conditions, and policy compliance to support prudent credit decisions and portfolio quality.
• Maintain expert knowledge of credit products, capital markets, economic trends, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices, ensuring adherence to Bank policies and applicable regulations.
• Monitor portfolio performance, including risk ratings, covenant compliance, borrowing bases, exceptions, watch list relationships, collections, charge-offs, recoveries, and other asset quality indicators.
• Collaborate with Community/Metro Presidents, Relationship Managers, and Portfolio Managers to identify emerging risks, develop action plans, and support sustainable portfolio growth.
• Provide coaching, training, and mentorship to Relationship Managers, Portfolio Managers, and other credit professionals to strengthen credit knowledge and promote sound risk management practices.
• Identify and implement opportunities to enhance credit processes, underwriting standards, technology, reporting, and operational efficiency.
• Participate in enterprise-level initiatives, strategic projects, and merger and acquisition activities as needed.
• Represent FirstBank within the communities and markets served through professional associations, civic involvement, and business development activities.
• Cultivate an environment that supports teamwork, and performance. Provide leadership though communication, performance management, development and recognition of staff
• Manage the team by hiring, coaching, training and providing direction to team members through feedback to support personal development and ongoing improvement

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree. Degree in Finance, Accounting or Economics strongly preferred
• Minimum of 15 years of progressive banking experience, including at least 7 years in commercial credit, credit administration, underwriting, portfolio management, or a related credit leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience approving and managing complex commercial, CRE, and C&I credit relationships.
• Strong understanding of credit risk management, loan structuring, regulatory requirements, and portfolio management principles.
• Experience leading credit teams and collaborating with executive leadership to balance growth objectives with prudent risk management.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to evaluate complex financial information, identify emerging risks, and develop practical solutions.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to balance portfolio quality, growth objectives, and client service expectations.
• Excellent leadership, coaching, and talent development skills.
• Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across business lines and levels of the organization.
• Exceptional judgment, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong verbal, written, and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate complex credit concepts to leadership and lending teams.
• Ability to lead change, improve processes, and drive operational effectiveness.
• Respectful demeanor toward other associates and managers that promotes a positive and professional work environment.
• Ability to demonstrate the highest level of ethical behavior and confidentiality and maintain confidentiality with sensitive information.
• Understand and comply with bank policy, laws, regulations as applicable to your job duties. This includes but is not limited to; complete compliance training and adhere to internal procedures and controls; report any known violations of compliance policy, laws, or regulations and report any suspicious customer and/or account activity.