Commercial Loan Officer III

Lead is a fintech building banking infrastructure for embedded financial products and services. We operate an FDIC-insured bank headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. Additionally, we have offices in San Francisco, Sunnyvale, and New York City, where our technical, product, design, and legal teams operate.

We are built for a constantly evolving financial landscape, where new ventures and technological advancements emerge daily. Guided by a team of entrepreneurs and technologists with decades of experience navigating intricate banking and payments regulations, Lead blends regulatory and technological expertise to help our fintech partners scale their operations with compliance and creativity.

Simply put, Lead offers the essential attributes that every fintech seeks in a partner bank. First, unparalleled technical expertise from a distinguished team of developers with an extensive understanding of the banking and payments systems. Second, oversight expertise, automated compliance systems, and bespoke program management to navigate the ever-shifting regulatory landscape. Finally, a commitment to transparency and operational rigor to ensure everyone's money does what it's supposed to do.

As a Community Bank, we provide personalized banking services and solutions to support the businesses, individuals, and charitable organizations of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, both in branch and online. We are committed to fostering strong relationships, supporting local economic growth, and we believe in the power of being an integral part of the community we serve.

Role Description:

We are seeking a seasoned and strategic Commercial Loan Officer III to lead in the development and management of a complex portfolio of commercial client relationships, driving both risk-aware lending practices and relationship growth. This senior-level lending role integrates business development, credit expertise, relationship management, and strategic portfolio oversight to deliver tailored financial solutions aligned with client goals and the Lead's risk appetite.

The ideal candidate brings extensive experience in business development, credit and market risk analysis, regulatory compliance, and client advisory. You will play a critical role in shaping portfolio strategy, mentoring junior staff, and collaborating cross-functionally to ensure sustainable portfolio performance and client satisfaction. This is a high-impact role that requires sound judgment, deep analytical acumen, and a proactive, relationship-driven approach.

In this role you will:

• Develop new commercial real estate and C&I loan relationships.
• Oversee the evaluation of complex commercial credit requests, including underwriting, covenant structuring, collateral analysis, and risk grading.
• Execute a commercial portfolio management strategy aligned with Lead's objectives, regulatory requirements, and risk tolerance.
• Conduct strategic portfolio reviews to monitor concentration risk, credit quality, and economic impacts; present findings to senior management and committees.
• Guide interest rate, fee structures, and lending terms to reflect risk and market dynamics.
• Ensure compliance with internal credit policies and external regulations; stay ahead of emerging regulatory and economic developments impacting lending practices.
• Serve as a credit subject matter expert for both internal teams and client-facing situations.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to key commercial clients, identifying opportunities to deepen relationships through integrated banking solutions.
• Partner with Portfolio Managers, Underwriters, and Product Specialists to develop custom financing and treasury strategies for clients.
• Conduct regular site visits and strategic reviews with clients to anticipate needs and mitigate risk.
• Mentor and develop junior commercial lenders, portfolio managers, and credit analysts by cultivating a culture of continuous learning, accountability, and excellence.
• Act as a key contributor in cross-functional initiatives, collaborating across lending, operations, compliance, and executive leadership.
• Lead and support new business development efforts, contributing to strategic growth goals through referrals and active pipeline management.
• Maintain portfolio performance reporting, documentation tracking, and exception management, while driving timely resolution of compliance and operational gaps.
• Champion the use of digital tools, data analytics, and modern contact development, loan origination, and portfolio management techniques to enhance efficiency, productivity, and insight.
• Represent the Bank at industry events, client functions, and community engagements to build visibility and trust.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• 7+ years of experience in commercial lending, portfolio management, or credit risk, ideally within a regulated banking environment.
• Proven new business development skills.
• Proven expertise in credit structuring, financial statement analysis, and commercial lending policies.
• Strong strategic and analytical skills; ability to interpret complex data and translate into actionable insights.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills across senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated leadership capability, with experience mentoring and guiding junior professionals.
• Proficiency with loan origination and portfolio management tools, electronic spreadsheets, and risk monitoring software.
• A self-starter with a collaborative mindset and a strong sense of accountability.
• A background in SBA lending is a plus, as is familiarity with nCino.

What we offer:

At Lead, we design our benefits to support company culture and principles, to foster an efficient and inspiring work environment, and to create the conditions for our team to give their best in both work and life

• Competitive compensation, including opportunities for equity grants and incentive bonus, based on experience, geographic location, and role
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, 401k Matching, and other wellness benefits, including FSA, HSA and HRA
• Paid parental leave
• Flexible vacation policy, including PTO and paid holidays
• A fun and challenging team environment in a dynamic industry with ample opportunities for career growth

*Lead Bank is proud to have an inclusive culture committed to ensuring equal employment opportunity in all employment decisions regardless of race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, veteran status or any other legally protected status.

*Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.