Position Summary
The Senior SBA
& USDA Underwriter is responsible for the independent underwriting,
structuring, analysis, and recommendation of complex government guaranteed
commercial loan requests in accordance with SBA SOP requirements, USDA
guidelines,bank credit policy, and prudent commercial lending practices.
This position
plays a critical role in maintaining credit quality, regulatory compliance,
portfolio performance, and operational efficiency within a high-performing
Government Guaranteed Lending ("GGL") platform. The ideal candidate possesses
advanced technical expertise in SBA 7(a), SBA Express, USDA B&I, and
related government guaranteed lending programs, while also demonstrating strong
business judgment, communication skills, and the ability to operate in a
fast-paced, production-oriented environment consistent with one of the nation's
top SBA lenders.
The Senior
Underwriter serves as a key resource to lenders, credit administration,
closing, servicing, and executive management while helping drive growth,
consistency, and credit culture throughout the organization.
The ideal
candidate combines elite-level government guaranteed lending expertise with
strong business acumen, sound credit judgment, operational discipline, and a
collaborative leadership style. This individual thrives in a high-performance
lending environment focused on growth, compliance, credit quality, and
exceptional client service.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities (Other
duties may be assigned.)
Credit
Underwriting & Analysis
- Independently underwrite complex SBA 7(a), SBA
Express, USDA B&I, and related government guaranteed loan requests. - Analyze borrower financial statements, tax
returns, projections, global cash flow, debt service capacity, collateral
coverage, liquidity, guarantor support, and repayment ability. - Assess business risk, industry trends, management
strength, succession considerations, and operational viability. - Structure transactions in accordance with SBA
SOP, USDA program requirements, bank credit policy, and safe and sound
banking practices. - Perform detailed collateral analysis including
real estate, business assets, special purpose collateral, and construction
lending scenarios. - Evaluate equity injection requirements, source
and seasoning of funds, and eligibility of contributed assets. - Analyze franchise eligibility, affiliation, size
standards, ownership structures, and organizational documentation. - Review environmental, appraisal, insurance, and
legal requirements associated with government guaranteed lending. - Prepare comprehensive written credit memorandums
and recommendation packages for approval authorities and loan committees. - Present and defend loan recommendations to senior
management and credit committees when necessary.
Government
Guaranteed Program Compliance
- Maintain expert-level knowledge of current SBA
SOPs, USDA regulations, policy notices, procedural updates, and program
changes. - Ensure all loans meet SBA and USDA eligibility,
underwriting, documentation, and compliance requirements. - Assist in maintaining the bank's Preferred Lender
Program ("PLP") standards and USDA lending authority requirements. - Identify and mitigate potential guaranty repair
or denial risks during underwriting. - Work closely with internal audit, quality
control, compliance, and loan operations teams to ensure adherence to
regulatory standards. - Assist with responses to SBA, USDA, internal
audit, and regulatory examination findings as needed.
Leadership
& Collaboration
- Serve as a technical resource and mentor to
junior underwriters, analysts, lenders, and support staff. - Promote consistency in underwriting standards and
credit culture across the organization. - Partner closely with business development
officers, closers, portfolio managers, and loan operations staff to ensure
efficient loan flow and exceptional customer experience. - Assist in developing underwriting procedures,
templates, workflows, and departmental best practices. - Participate in training initiatives related to
SBA and USDA lending programs.
Qualifications
Education
& Experience
- Bachelor's degree in finance, Accounting,
Business, Economics, or related field preferred. - Minimum 7-10 years of commercial credit
underwriting experience required. - Minimum 5 years of direct SBA underwriting
experience required. - USDA B&I underwriting experience strongly
preferred. - Experience within a high-volume SBA lending
platform preferred. - Prior experience with PLP lending strongly
preferred.
Technical Knowledge Requirements
Advanced
knowledge of:
*
SBA SOP 50 10 and
related procedural notices
*
SBA 7(a), Express,
CAPLines, and construction lending
*
USDA Business &
Industry (B&I) lending
*
Commercial cash flow
analysis and global cash flow
*
CRE and business
acquisition underwriting
*
Construction lending
analysis
*
Environmental and
appraisal requirements
*
SBA eligibility and
affiliation rules
*
Collateral valuation
methodologies
*
Loan structuring and
risk assessment
*
Regulatory and
compliance expectations
Skills
& Competencies
- Exceptional analytical and credit underwriting
skills. - Strong written and verbal communication
abilities. - Ability to manage multiple transactions under
tight deadlines. - Strong organizational skills and attention to
detail. - Ability to operate independently with minimal
supervision. - Strong decision-making and problem-solving
capabilities. - Ability to thrive in a fast-paced,
production-driven environment. - High level of professionalism, accountability,
and integrity.
Preferred
Systems Experience
- SBA E-Tran
- CAFS
- Abrigo / Sageworks / Moody's
- Microsoft Excel and Word
Performance
Expectations
- Maintain high levels of underwriting accuracy and
compliance. - Deliver timely credit decisions consistent with
service-level expectations. - Support portfolio growth while maintaining strong
credit quality. - Contribute to the bank's strategic growth within
SBA and USDA lending platforms. - Uphold the institution's credit culture and reputation as a top-tier government guaranteed lender.
FIRST COMMUNITY BANK (SC) is an EEO Employer - M/F/Disability/Protected Veteran Status
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