Commercial Lending Operations Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

About BrightStar:

As a member of BrightStar Credit Union, you'll join a dynamic company culture and purpose-driven organization that focuses on its employees and members. We offer excellent benefits, advanced opportunities, and exceptional training. Founded in 1946 as a community-based credit union serving educators, we have since expanded to serve 23 counties across the state of Florida. As a Trusted Advisor, BrightStar offers a diverse range of financial services and opportunities. BrightStar Credit Union is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where everyone has the chance to succeed and feel a sense of belonging. Our work environment is fun, fast-paced, and service-oriented. 

What we offer:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• 401K Plan with Matching
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Supplemental Benefits
• Engagement Area
• Wellness Studio & Gym at our Corporate Headquarters
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• Health Savings Account with Company Contributions

Position Summary:

The Commercial Lending Operations Specialist is primarily responsible for post-closing administration and ongoing file integrity, ensuring commercial loan files are complete, accurate, compliant, and properly maintained after closing. The role also supports annual review outreach and assists with the processing of less complex commercial loan requests, working directly with members and internal partners from initial request through closing.

The position also provides servicing coordination, operational support, participation loan administration, and other departmental support as needed.

Role Responsibilities:

Loan Processing & Underwriting Support

• Serve as a primary point of contact for borrowers during the loan application and processing phase. 

• Collect, organize, and review financial statements, tax returns, rent rolls, organizational documents, and other underwriting requirements to ensure completeness before underwriting submission. 

• Coordinate directly with members, brokers, attorneys, and third parties to obtain outstanding documentation and resolve file deficiencies. 

• Prepare and submit complete loan packages to underwrite in accordance with internal procedures and timelines. 

• Track loan status and maintain consistent communication with borrowers and internal stakeholders throughout the underwriting and approval process. 

• Assist with pipeline management and follow up on outstanding credit and documentation conditions. 

Loan Servicing & Post-Closing Administration: 

• Review closed loan files and follow up on post-closing items, including recorded documents, title policies, SNDAs, insurance requirements, trailing documentation, and other outstanding closing conditions.

• Prepare partial releases, payoff letters, estoppels, and servicing-related correspondence in accordance with loan requirements. 

• Coordinate servicing requests, including pledged fund releases, payment inquiries, payoff requests, and covenant tracking items. 

• Scan, index, upload, and maintain loan documentation to ensure each file is complete, well-organized, and maintained in accordance with retention policies, audit standards, and regulatory requirements.

• Coordinate with internal departments, attorneys, title companies, and other parties as needed to resolve post-closing exceptions and complete servicing and operational requests.

Commercial Lending Operations Support: 

• Submit and manage departmental service tickets and operational requests. 

• Assist with commercial loan system maintenance, file organization, and document imaging.

• Assist with the processing of less complex commercial loan requests, working with members from initial request through closing, including document collection, application support, internal coordination, status updates, and follow-up on              outstanding items.

• Support departmental workflow, process improvement initiatives, and other operational needs as assigned.

• Maintain accurate loan records and ensure consistency across internal systems.

Annual Financial Collection & Member Outreach:

• Coordinate outreach to borrowers for the collection of annual financial statements, tax returns, rent rolls, insurance documentation, and other required annual review items.

• Maintain regular communication with members regarding outstanding financial reporting requirements and follow up to ensure timely submission.

• Track and monitor receipt of required financial documentation to support annual portfolio review processes. 

• Organize and prepare collected financial information for underwriting and portfolio management review, and assist with follow-up on incomplete or outstanding annual review items.

Participation Loan Support:

• Assist with participation loan sales and ongoing communication with partner institutions. • Support participation file maintenance, documentation coordination, and servicing requests related to participated loans. 

• Help facilitate onboarding and maintenance of participation relationships. 

• Ensure participation documentation is complete and organized in accordance with internal policies and partner expectations. 

Compliance & Regulatory Support :

• Support HMDA tracking, reporting, and documentation requirements. 

• Ensure commercial loan files are complete, accurate, and maintained in accordance with internal policy, audit, and regulatory standards.

• Maintain accuracy and completeness of loan documentation, ticklers, and operational records throughout post-closing and servicing activities.

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. 

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment. 

• Strong customer service and relationship management skills. 

• Effective written and verbal communication skills. 

• Working knowledge of commercial loan processing, servicing, and documentation practices.

• Ability to coordinate effectively with borrowers, attorneys, title companies, and internal departments. 

• Proficiency in banking systems, document imaging platforms, and Microsoft Office applications.

• Compliance-oriented mindset with strong documentation standards. 

• Perform additional duties, projects, and operational support functions as assigned to meet the evolving needs of the Commercial Lending Department.

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Qualifications:

Education & Experience 

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate’s degree or higher preferred. 

• Prior experience in commercial lending, loan servicing, loan processing, or banking operations preferred. 

• Experience with commercial loan documentation, underwriting support, or post-closing administration strongly preferred. 

• Participation loan experience is a plus but not required. 

Goals for Position:

• Ensure closed loan files are complete, accurate, organized, and audit-ready by timely resolving post-closing items, maintaining required documentation and ticklers, and coordinating servicing requests and operational followup.

• 40% Post-Closing File Administration & Loan Servicing

• 25% Loan Processing & Member Support

• Provide responsive, organized support for less complex commercial loan requests from initial request through closing, including member communication, document collection, internal coordination, and timely follow-up on outstanding items.

• 20% Annual Review & Portfolio Support

• Support the annual review process through timely member outreach, collection and tracking of required financial information, and organized preparation of documentation for underwriting and portfolio management review.

• 15% Quality, Compliance & Department Support

• Maintain a high standard of accuracy, compliance, responsiveness, and documentation quality while supporting participation administration, departmental initiatives, audits and examinations, and other duties as assigned.

Compliance:

• Employees must uphold the credit union's compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money laundering policies and procedures. Specific functions with B.S.C.U. will consider the awareness of unusual or suspicious activity relevant to the department.