General Functions 

The Business Loan Officer is responsible for generating, evaluating, and underwriting small business loans that align with the mission of supporting underserved entrepreneurs and communities. This role includes outreach to small business owners, providing guidance on loan applications while building and maintaining strong relationships with applicants and borrowers as well as CILC’s partner agencies throughout the State. Also ensures that standard company and any state, federal and granting/funding agency policies are followed. The Loan Officer works closely with the Loan Committee and loan servicing team to ensure responsible lending practices while helping local businesses access capital.  

Major Activities (Typical Duties/Responsibilities) 

• Market business loan products to the local community, referral partners, Tribal entities, individuals, and small business entrepreneurs within CILC’s target market of the Municipality of Anchorage, the Kenai and Matanuska-Susitna Boroughs and on a case-by-case basis across the state of Alaska. 

• Develop and maintain relationships with small businesses, community organizations and referral partners 

• Conduct marketing and outreach to identify potential borrowers, with a focus on underserved and minority-owned businesses.  

• Provide technical assistance to small business owners on financial literacy, business planning, cash flow management, and improving creditworthiness. 

• Serve as a resource for clients throughout the loan lifecycle, offering ongoing support and advice. 

• Conduct site visits, and regular check-ins with borrowers to assess the performance and address any emerging challenges. 

• Work with clients who are experiencing difficulties to develop loan modification or workout plans, if necessary. 

• Participate in presenting CILC’s Small Business Lending Program in educational workshops, networking, and marketing events etc. 

• Promptly respond to all inquiries and online applications resulting from Cook Inlet Lending Center’s extensive marketing efforts. 

• Maintain a clean pipeline with an organized follow-up program and clear communication in relation to closing dates, extensions, etc. 

• Maintain knowledge of lender's underwriting criteria. 

• Effectively screen prospects to identify those that meet lender's underwriting criteria and organizational mission objectives. 

• Originate business loans from $500 to $250,000, analyzing business plans and financial statements, tax returns, determining feasibility of income and cash flow projections, determining value of collateral, analyzing credit reports and other necessary documentation, completing risk analysis including determining Debt Service Coverage Ratio, Current Ratio, D/TNW, LTV and DTI and AMI of individuals,  structuring loan terms to fit borrowers’ needs, prepare credit presentations and present to approvers including Loan Committee, review and initiate loan closings with approved borrowers. 

• Monitor and manage a loan portfolio of borrowers with scheduled follow-up, providing loan restructuring options when necessary, and following the Loan Delinquency Procedures. 

• Handle phone and walk-in loan inquiries, assessing potential applicants’ eligibility according to CILC lending guidelines 

• Ensure all loans are originated, disclosed and/or re-directed accurately and timely within all established regulatory compliance requirements and timeframes. 

• Ensure accurate processing is completed in a timely manner and prepare for submission to underwriting. 

• Create and maintain reports to keep staff and management up to date at weekly loan review meetings and as needed for management reporting. 

• Effectively communicate to staff the status of borrower files on a regular basis and engage other team members as appropriate. 

• Assist with the continued development of the CILC Small Business Lending Program, Policies and Procedures. 

• Other duties as assigned. 

Skills and Abilities 

• Commitment to the mission of supporting underserved communities and economic development.  

• Excellent communication and relationship building skills.  

• Must be available to travel occasionally within the state of Alaska and outside Alaska for approved training and/or meet with Tribal entities. 

• Demonstrated ability to work as a team member and utilize good communication skills both in oral and written form. 

• Ability to work with clientele of varying ages, financial status, linguistically challenged, economically and culturally diverse demographics. 

• Must be able to work effectively with Tribal authorities/entities. 

• Must have excellent people skills with ability to work through communication barriers or challenges. 

• Superior analytical skills with the ability to work with numbers, statistics, and other technical data. 

• Ability to analyze business plans and financial statements, tax returns, determining feasibility of income and cash flow projections, determining value of collateral, analyzing credit reports and other necessary documentation. 

• Comfortable making presentations to an audience. 

• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to handle multiple tasks and deadlines. 

• Valid Alaska Driver’s License 

Education and Experience 

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, or accounting, banking, community development, urban studies, or related discipline. 

• Significant employment experience in business management, accounting, marketing, sales, retail, internet-based business, etc. 

• Two years of experience in small business lending and/or community development. 

• Experience in business, mortgage or consumer lending, real estate, accounting, CDFI, banking, or financial planning or financial coaching may be substituted for college on a year-for-year basis.