Chief Lending Officer

About Us
We are a well-established, community-focused bank with approximately $600 million in assets and $1.07 billion in assets under management, serving individuals, businesses, and municipalities across the Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Northeast Wisconsin. Our headquarters resides in Marquette, MI with an additional eight branch offices. Our mission is to foster financial growth and stability in the communities we serve through personalized service and responsible lending practices.

Position Summary
The Chief Lending Officer (CLO) is a key member of the executive leadership team, responsible for the strategic direction, oversight, and performance of the bank’s lending operations, including commercial, consumer, and municipal lending. The CLO will also lead the development and execution of strategic initiatives for the Business Banking department, ensuring alignment with the bank’s overall strategic plan and vision.

The position is open due to the current CLO being named the successor for our CEO, who has announced their retirement after 28 years of service. This role requires a dynamic leader who can inspire teams, drive innovation, and cultivate a high-performance culture rooted in integrity, accountability, and community values. We pride ourselves in being a consultant to our customers.

The position will require working in-person from one of our branches and will require some travel between our four regions: Marquette County, Copper Country, Kingsford, and Green Bay.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
• Provide visionary leadership and strategic direction for all lending functions.
• Create, manage, and lead strategic initiatives for the Business Banking department, including product development, client acquisition, and relationship management.
• Develop and implement lending strategies that support the bank’s growth, profitability, and risk management objectives.
• Work closely with SVP-Commercial Credit Department Manager to ensure high quality underwriting, presentation and maintenance of commercial credits.
• Work closely with VP-Credit Administration Officer to ensure proper documentation, efficient operations, regulatory reporting and compliance for business and consumer loans.
• Actively participate in Officer, Directors and Board Loan Committees and provide guidance on credit decisions, loan structuring, and risk rating.
• Actively participate in Asset Liability Management and Problem Loan Committee.
• Oversee the development and maintenance of lending policies and procedures in compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Oversee, manage, and adjust, as necessary, individual and committee loan authorities.
• Monitor loan portfolio performance, identify trends, and report regularly to the CEO and Board of Directors.
• Collaborate with Chief Home Mortgage Officer on products, pricing and strategic direction.
• Collaborate with senior leadership on strategic planning, budgeting, and asset-liability management.
• Ensure successful outcomes in internal and external audits and regulatory examinations.
• Mentor, manage and develop lending staff, fostering a culture of accountability, service excellence, and professional growth.
• Represent the bank in the community, building relationships with key clients, civic leaders, and business organizations.

Leadership Qualities
• Strategic thinker with the ability to align departmental goals with the bank’s long-term vision.
• Inspirational leader who motivates teams and builds trust across departments.
• Strong decision-maker with sound judgment and a commitment to ethical lending practices.
• Excellent communicator who can clearly articulate goals, expectations, and feedback.
• Collaborative partner who works effectively with executive leadership and board members.
• Change agent who embraces innovation and continuous improvement.

Qualifications
Required
• Bachelor’s degree in finance, business administration, or related field; MBA or Graduate School of Banking preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in banking, with at least 5 years in a senior lending or credit leadership role.
• Proven track record in commercial lending and portfolio management.
• Strong understanding of lending regulations, credit risk, and compliance.
• Demonstrated success in leading business banking initiatives and teams.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and strategic planning skills.
• Commitment to community banking values and relationship-based lending.

Preferred
• Experience with municipal lending and small business development.
• Ability to analyze complex financial statements and credit information.
• Proficiency in loan systems and reporting tools.

Benefits
• Paid time off
• Volunteer time off (1 day per year)
• Paid holidays (9.5 days per year)
• Health insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
• Telehealth with $0 copay
• HSA plan options, including employer contribution
• Vision
• Dental
• 401(k) retirement plan with up to 6% match (after 1 year)
• Short term disability insurances (paid 100% by company)
• Long term disability insurance (paid 100% by company)
• Life insurance (paid 100% by company)
• Voluntary life insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan

This job description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions; and nothing in this herein restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.