The Head of Commercial Lending leads the bank's efforts to originate, structure, underwrite, and manage loans for commercial clients-typically middle-market companies, small businesses, and sometimes larger enterprises-while ensuring the portfolio remains profitable and compliant.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategy & Growth
- Set the overall commercial lending strategy (target industries, deal size, risk appetite)
- Drive loan growth, fee income, and interest margin
- Identify new markets, products, and verticals (e.g., CRE, C&I, SBA, asset-based lending)
- Align lending strategy with the bank's broader financial and risk objectives
- Team Leadership
- Lead commercial lenders, relationship managers, credit officers, and support teams
- Hire, coach, and develop high-performing lending teams
- Set production goals and performance metrics
- Ensure consistent underwriting and relationship management standards
- Client Relationship Management
- Serve as an executive sponsor for key commercial clients
- Build and maintain relationships with business owners, CFOs, and financial sponsors
- Structure complex deals and negotiate terms
- Cross-sell treasury, cash management, payments, and other bank products
- Credit & Risk Management
- Oversee credit policy, underwriting standards, and approval processes
- Review and approve large or complex credit requests
- Monitor portfolio performance, concentrations, delinquencies, and charge-offs
- Work closely with risk, compliance, and loan review teams
- Portfolio & Performance Oversight
- Manage the commercial loan portfolio for profitability, yield, and credit quality
- Analyze trends in industries, geographies, and borrower performance
- Adjust strategy in response to economic conditions and regulatory guidance
- Regulatory & Compliance Oversight
- Ensure compliance with banking regulations (OCC, FDIC, state regulators)
- Participate in regulatory exams and audits related to lending
- Ensure fair lending, documentation, and credit governance standards are met
- Executive & Board Engagement
- Report regularly to executive leadership and the Board
- Present portfolio metrics, risk assessments, and growth plans
- Provide insight into economic and market conditions impacting borrowers