First Bank & Trust Company of Illinois · 1 day ago
Commercial Loan Officer
Palatine, IL
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$90K/yr - $150K/yr
10+ years expFirst Bank & Trust Company of Illinois is seeking a Commercial Loan Officer responsible for originating, structuring, underwriting, and managing commercial loan relationships. The role requires strong financial analysis and relationship building skills, and involves working closely with clients and internal departments to ensure compliance and high-quality service.
Banking
Hiring Manager
Jackie Mena
Responsibilities
Identify, source, and develop new commercial lending opportunities
Build relationships with business owners, brokers, and centers of influence to grow the loan portfolio
Represent the bank in the business community, identifying growth opportunities that align with the bank’s lending philosophy
Underwrite, structure, and negotiate large and complex commercial loan transactions including CRE, C&I, bridge financing, and acquisition loans
Analyze financial statements, tax returns, projections, and collateral to assess creditworthiness
Prepare detailed credit memos and present recommendations to senior credit leadership and loan committees
Manage an active portfolio of commercial loans, ensuring strong credit quality and profitability
Monitor borrower performance, covenant compliance, collateral, and financial reporting
Identify and address early warning indicators and recommend risk mitigation actions
Coordinate closing activities with attorneys, title companies, construction inspectors, credit administration, and internal partners
Review legal documentation for accuracy and alignment with credit approval
Ensure proper funding, collateral perfection, and adherence to internal controls
Serve as the primary point of contact for borrowers, delivering proactive support and tailored financing solutions
Maintain relationships through regular check-ins, portfolio reviews, and cross-sale of banking services
Qualification
Required
10+ years of progressively responsible experience in commercial lending, credit analysis, or commercial banking
Proven track record of originating and managing complex commercial relationships
Bachelor's degree in business, Finance, Accounting, or related field; formal credit training is strongly preferred
Strong working knowledge of commercial loan documentation, regulatory guidelines, and underwriting best practices
Experience mentoring or managing junior lending staff
Must be able to communicate clearly, both orally and written
Must possess interpersonal skills necessary to interact effectively at all levels of the organization
Ability to read and understand relevant statutory and regulatory requirements imperative
Must present oneself in a positive business-like image to all internal and external customers
Proven ability to quickly grasp and understand business strategies
High standards and ability to foster a sense of collaboration, pride, and fun within the group
Well-organized and bottom line-oriented; being deliberate and quantitative about costs/benefits, both immediate and long-term
Excellent listening and communication skills, both written and verbal
Able to work independently, but also able to motivate others, including peers and independent colleagues
Unquestionable integrity
Preferred
Formal credit training is strongly preferred
Benefits
Medical
Dental
Vision
401k plan with potential for company match
Company
First Bank & Trust Company of Illinois
First Bank is a Chicago-based FDIC-insured bank with national reach.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageCompany data provided by crunchbase