Would you like me to tighten this job description, turn it into a candidate outreach email, or create screening questions to identify someone with both credit leadership and hands-on commercial lending experience?
Chief Credit Officer – Commercial Lending
A growing Community Bank is seeking an experienced Chief Credit Officer (CCO) to lead credit administration, portfolio quality, and credit risk strategy while partnering with the lending team to support sound, profitable growth.
The ideal candidate combines credit leadership with hands-on commercial lending experience, bringing strong judgment and a business-minded approach to structuring quality lending opportunities.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee credit administration, commercial portfolio quality, and credit risk management.
- Establish and maintain credit policies, underwriting standards, risk tolerances, and approval procedures.
- Review and approve complex C&I, CRE, construction, and other commercial credits within delegated authority.
- Partner with lenders on loan structure, pricing, risk mitigation, and credit decisions.
- Participate in key client and prospect meetings to support quality relationship growth.
- Monitor concentrations, delinquencies, criticized/classified assets, policy exceptions, and emerging risks.
- Oversee risk ratings, annual reviews, covenant compliance, loan documentation, and portfolio monitoring.
- Evaluate financial statements, tax returns, global cash flow, collateral, guarantor strength, and repayment capacity.
- Lead and develop Credit Analysts, Underwriters, Portfolio Managers, and other credit personnel.
- Lead or participate in Loan/Credit Committee and present credit recommendations.
- Report portfolio trends, asset quality, concentrations, and risk exposure to Executive Management and the Board.
- Coordinate with regulators, auditors, loan review, attorneys, and other professional partners.
- Maintain compliance with applicable banking regulations and lending requirements.
- Support strategic planning for loan growth, market expansion, credit appetite, and portfolio diversification.
Commercial Lending Focus
This role requires a leader who understands both credit discipline and commercial relationship development.
- Proven commercial lending and relationship management experience.
- Strong knowledge of C&I, CRE, and construction lending.
- Ability to structure transactions that balance client needs, profitability, and credit risk.
- Comfortable working directly with business owners, developers, investors, and key clients.
- Ability to help lenders win and retain quality loan, deposit, and treasury relationships.
Qualifications
- 10+ years of progressive commercial banking experience preferred.
- Strong background in both commercial lending and credit administration.
- Leadership experience as a Chief Credit Officer, Senior Credit Officer, Credit Manager, Senior Commercial Lender, or similar.
- Experience evaluating and approving complex, high-dollar commercial credits.
- Advanced knowledge of underwriting, financial analysis, global cash flow, loan structuring, risk ratings, and portfolio management.
- Proven ability to protect asset quality while supporting profitable growth.
- Strong leadership, communication, judgment, and decision-making skills.
- Experience working with Executive Management, Boards, regulators, lenders, and clients.
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
Interested in Learning More?
I’m Denise Fair, Search Consultant with gpac’s Banking Division, and I’d welcome the opportunity to discuss your career goals and this Chief Credit Officer opportunity.
All conversations are FULLY CONFIDENTIAL and come with no obligation—simply an opportunity to explore whether this role aligns with your experience and goals.
Denise Fair
Search Consultant | gpac – Banking Division
denise.fair@gogpac.com
All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations.
GPAC (Growing People and Companies) is an award-winning search firm specializing in placing quality professionals within multiple industries across the United States since 1990. We are extremely competitive, client-focused and realize that our value is in our ability to deliver the right solutions at the right time.
