Seacoast National Bank - Fort Lauderdale, FL
posted 3 months ago
The Commercial Underwriter plays a crucial role in supporting the revenue growth and asset quality of the commercial lending line of business. This position involves participating in new client relationship development activities and functioning as part of the lending partnership. The underwriter is responsible for monitoring existing client relationships and managing credit risk to ensure that loans are quality assets and well-structured, thereby mitigating portfolio risk. A deep understanding of the nature of the businesses and industries served by the bank is essential. The underwriter promotes and supports the loan policies, credit culture, and strategic initiatives of the bank, while examining, evaluating, authorizing, or recommending approval of customer applications for commercial loans. Effectively managing a commercial loan portfolio is a key responsibility of this role. Underwriters will utilize strong analytical skills, a high-level understanding of business finance, and extensive knowledge to propose and provide solutions that meet customer needs. They will analyze financial information on existing and potential customers to assess the borrower's and guarantor's financial condition and ability to repay a loan request. This includes performing periodic or annual reviews and covenant tests, as well as investigating all available sources of credit and financial information, including reporting services and credit bureaus. Understanding the market(s) and industry in which the customer operates is critical, as is assessing the collateral pledged as security. The underwriter will prepare and present financial information, industry data, economic influences, and other market information in the required format, analyzing it in detail for trends, ratios, cash flow, etc. The role requires the preparation of analytical credit memoranda that are accurate and insightful, identifying and examining all risks, analyzing sources of repayment, citing policy exceptions, and evaluating collateral. Underwriters must maintain a thorough understanding of the credit culture and loan policy to inform, articulate, and advise on risk appetite and policy adherence. They should be capable of handling all loan types, including complex borrowers, with minimal direction and should be able to negotiate structure with Commercial Bankers on underwriting assignments. Ensuring that loan agreements are complete and accurate according to loan approval is essential, as is supporting timely loan closing and funding activities. Managing the loan portfolio to ensure conformity and servicing with approved terms and compliance with all loan documents is a critical aspect of the role. Underwriters must be proactive in identifying weaknesses in loans to minimize the bank's exposure, reduce credit risk, and mitigate delinquency and loss. This includes monitoring borrowers' compliance with loan documents, obtaining and reviewing required documentation or reports in a timely manner, tracking loan payments, and performing periodic borrower reviews. The underwriter will also assist the Special Assets Department in managing problem loans and remain current on market and industry issues, trends, regulatory pronouncements, and analytical techniques. Time management and organizational skills are essential, as is the ability to assist other underwriters in covering overflow work.