Senior Credit Underwriting Officer (CRE)

Come work with us:

Metropolitan Commercial Bank (the “Bank”) is a full-service commercial bank based in New York City. The Bank provides a broad range of business, commercial, and personal banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, private and public middle-market and corporate enterprises and institutions, municipalities, and local government entities.

Metropolitan Commercial Bank was named one of Newsweek’s Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions 2024. The Bank was ranked by Independent Community Bankers of America among the top ten successful loan producers for 2023 by loan category and asset size for commercial banks with more than $1 billion in assets. Kroll affirmed a BBB+ (investment grade) deposit rating on January 25, 2024. For the fourth time, MCB has earned a place in the Piper Sandler Bank Sm-All Stars Class of 2024.

Metropolitan Commercial Bank operates banking centers and private client offices in Manhattan, Boro Park, Brooklyn and Great Neck on Long Island in New York State.

The Bank is a New York State chartered commercial bank, a member of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and an equal housing lender. The parent company of Metropolitan Commercial Bank is Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp. (NYSE: MCB).

Position summary:

The Senior Credit Officer (FVP) supports the Credit Director Deputy Chief Credit Officer (DCCO) and the Chief Credit Officer (CCO) in managing the Bank’s commercial credit risk strategy, overseeing a team of underwriters looking at transactions in the Commercial Real Estate (CRE) sectors, ensuring prudent credit decision-making aligned to credit risk appetite and strategic business goals, maintaining a high-quality commercial credit portfolio and minimizing credit losses, developing and embedding sound credit policies and practices, and ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements.   The FVP Senior Credit Officer (CRE) role involves overseeing the proper credit structuring for credit transactions and covering all CRE segments (e.g. Multi-Family, Mixed-Use, Office, Industrial, Retail, Hospitality, Charter Schools, Construction) with an emphasis on transitional, and the individual will be expected to provide guidance and coach less experienced underwriters.

We have a flexible work schedule where employees can work from home one day a week.

Essential functions and responsibilities

• Oversee and lead the credit underwriting team, ensuring effective challenge, preparation of robust credit memorandums incorporating detailed risk analysis and accurate risk ratings aligned with credit risk strategy, policies, procedures and regulations.
• The officer will review, and sponsor credits submitted for credit approval, ensuring the risk rating is an appropriate reflection of the credit risk profile of each borrower.
• Collaborate with loan officers and other stakeholders to maintain portfolio quality and mitigate risks, balancing disciplined growth and credit risk appetite in lending activities. Advise on loan terms, including repayment schedules, covenants, collateral and other credit conditions.  Attend client meetings and/or site visits as appropriate.
• Mentor less experienced colleagues across Credit, Portfolio Management and lending functions by providing guidance on underwriting, structuring, and managing credit risks while ensuring compliance with internal policy requirements and regulatory requirements.
• Support in talent assessment and performance reviews with the credit function
• Lead / participate effectively in Credit Committee and other Committee meetings as appropriate. Ensure all credit-related questions from the approval authority are addressed efficiently and effectively.
• Oversee the accurate completion of various monthly, quarterly or ad hoc reports as necessary in a timely manner.
• Liaise with regulators and auditors on credit-related matters, ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks
• Monitor credit exposures, portfolio quality and concentration risks, and analyze trends and early warning indicators to mitigate potential credit risks.
• Drive implementation of technology transformation and efficiency maximization across the credit function, aligning with technology and AI strategies.
• Lead team discussions to promote and secure support for strategic initiatives.
• Stay up to date with industry’s best practices and emerging trends, applying this knowledge to help influence and shape the CCO and DCCO’s strategic decision making as well as drive innovation for the benefit of the team and the Bank.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Candidate will have a minimum of 12 years experience in CRE (e.g. Multi-Family, Mixed-Use, Office, Industrial, Retail, Hospitality, Charter Schools, Construction) and be a seasoned, credit trained banker who has demonstrated the ability to thrive in a credit intensive environment.
• Strong leadership and management skills with reputation as a team player and with a hands-on approach, setting goals, motivating and managing the performance of team members as well as showing a willingness to invest in the coaching and development of team members.
• Excellent analytical, written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills
• Knowledge and experience of all key segments of the CRE industry, with particular focus on the Tri-State region and South Florida.
• Exhibit skills and experience at a highly advanced level of developing loan structuring options and managing large credit exposures and complex credit situations.
• Strong understanding of covenant structures and documenting loans.
• Ability to think strategically and drive innovation and efficiencies
• Deep understanding of regulatory credit frameworks and risk models
• Foster a culture of sound credit judgement, risk awareness, and compliance

Potential Salary: $220,000 - $250,000 annually

This salary range reflects base wages and does not include benefits, bonus, or incentive pay. Salary bands are purposefully wide ranging to encompass the different factors considered in determining where a candidate falls in the range, including but not limited to, seniority, performance, experience, education, and any other legitimate, non-discriminatory factor permitted by law. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors including candidate experience and expertise and may vary from the amounts listed here.

Metropolitan Commercial Bank provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.