Consumer Loan Underwriter

SCHEDULE: Monday through Friday (8:30 am-5:00 pm) and 1 of 4 Saturday mornings. Average of 40 hours/week. Overtime as needed.

LOCATION: 131 E Main St, Hills, IA 52235

BENEFITS: Our employees are our most valuable assets, so we invest in them with a comprehensive and competitive benefits package. Our philosophy of taking care of the customer extends to taking care of our employees so that they, in turn, can take good care of themselves and their families. Join Hills Bank and let us surprise you with even more perks!

SCOPE:

Provides assistance for the consumer lending function through loan processing, consumer loan underwriting, lending training and loan reporting/tracking. Key responsibilities include functions to support Retail Lenders and the Consumer Loan Processing group. The Consumer Loan Specialist develops and executes training and support of the consumer lending functions for the Retail team as well as provides operational support by processing home equity loans, HELOCS, consumer loans and disclosures; preparing extension agreements and loan modifications; and underwriting home equity loans in accordance to income verification standards. Retail lending training and support is also an integral function of the position, including both initial loan origination training as well as ongoing customer service training as it relates to the servicing of consumer loans and production of related documentation.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Processing/Quality Control:

• Provides guidance for co-workers and Retail Lenders concerning underwriting guidelines, compliance and documentation requirements.

• Prepares preliminary disclosures in accordance with regulatory requirements.

• Reviews loans to ensure accuracy of documentation, compliance with federal and state regulations, and compliance with Consumer Loan Policy.
• Receives, organizes and checks-in loan processing requests as they are received from lenders. Acquires information required for processing the loan from the lender, credit files or other sources as needed.
• Processes home equity loans, HELOC and other, more complex consumer loans.
• Works closely with 3rd party servicers to ensure timely delivery of documentation to prepare and file lien perfection documentation. Generates note, mortgage and associated loan documentation to ensure the Bank's contract and collateral position as requested for loans that are underwritten and approved per Consumer Loan Policy and other bank procedures
• Obtains pay-off information as necessary, reviews preliminary lien searches and other essential documents. Reviews title work to clear title objections on the collateral.
• Maintains knowledge regarding federal and state compliance laws and other lending regulations to assure accurate and compliant loan documentation.
• Maintains knowledge of current loan documentation guidelines for home equity loans, HELOCS, and other consumer purpose loans to perfect the banks lien on collateral.
• Learns and maintains knowledge of the bank's loan software systems.
• Provides excellent customer service to our lenders to ensure customer's needs are met.
• Tracks maturing real estate and consumer originated loan portfolio. Researches loan structure for best principal servicing. Researches all associated collateral with the loan. Prepares requests to lenders for customer contact to extend the maturing loans and prepare the modification paperwork

Retail Loan Training:

• Delivers operations and product training to new Retail Lenders.
• Creates and develops training course materials related to key retail lending concepts.
• Performs training needs analyses to determine individual or departmental performance gaps.
• Facilitates application exercises and performance tests to ensure knowledge/skill delivery.
• Assesses progress and training performance.
• Supports ongoing consumer loan learning for Retail Lenders both in person and using phone/e-mail/other web channels as necessary.

Loan Underwriting:

• Reviews and underwrites loan and credit card applications pursuant to established underwriting guidelines.
• Provides documentation and verification in home equity loan application to meet standards of federal regulations.

• Prepares Internal Evaluation for home equity loans to document the bank's lien position and equity by research all liens and property valuation.
• Maintains proficiency in understanding personal finances, including comprehension and analysis of financial documents, including financial statements, tax returns and credit reports.
• Calculates income from tax returns to meet Ability to Repay standards and bank's standards for all credit.
• Collaborates with lenders to discuss the underwriting decisions of loan and credit card applications.
• Maintains knowledge and understanding of bank policy and applicable laws and regulation affecting consumer lending and underwriting functions. Further assists in developing and updating procedures as required through changes in such policies, laws or regulations.

Reporting and Tracking:

• Generates loan exception reporting systems to track consumer loan approval outside Consumer Loan Policy standards. Reporting to include statistical analysis and tracking of declined loan files.
• Prepares detailed lender review narratives including review of applications, compliance and loan documents.
• Prepares support of the bank's real estate internal evaluation by calculating ratios of assessed value compared to prior appraisals.
• Works interdepartmentally to track loan performance for asset quality.

• Maintains knowledge and understanding of bank policy and applicable laws and regulation affecting consumer lending and underwriting functions. Further assists in developing and updating procedures as required through changes in such policies, laws or regulations.
• Maintains electronic documentation of loan policies and procedures as resource for consumer lenders.

Loan Software/Technology Support:

• Supports the innovation to move the consumer lending area to a digital Loan Origination and Disclosure System.

• Tests decisioning software applications for set-up on input fields and form generation.
• Troubleshoots decisioning software input and form errors for correct outcomes.

Other:

• As part of the overall team of bank employees, this position may be requested to assist in the support of other bank activities.

EDUCATION AND SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Associate's degree (A.A.) or equivalent from two-year college or technical school -OR- two to three years related experience and/or training -OR- equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Technical training in loan documentation and compliance issues preferred.
• Baseline knowledge of typical office software is required as well as the capability to learn additional required software skills.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER