Locality Bank SBA Business Development Officer Fort Lauderdale, FL · Full time Company website

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Locality is reinventing local business banking – pairing the best of personal relationships with comprehensive financing experience and innovative technology to help entrepreneurs and business owners' flourish. Locality believes a successful, local, banking relationship brings business success too. Locality Bank's mission is to empower local businesses to maximize their potential. The bank's culture blends inspiring innovation, ownership, trust, authenticity and a community bank with the innovative fintech approach.

Bank Culture

Locality Bank is a community bank with an innovative spirit. We empower local businesses to maximize their potential through personalized banking solutions, deep relationships, and forward-thinking financial technology. The bank’s culture blends inspiring innovative ideas, ownership, trust and authenticity with the warmth of a community bank. We believe a successful, local, banking relationship brings business success too.

Role Overview

This is an individual-contributor position reporting to the EVP / Chief Revenue Officer. The SBA Business Development Officer owns the SBA lending relationship from first contact through closing and funding, working side by side with the bank’s SBA Operations Team (processing, underwriting, and closing), the Credit Department, and CDC partners (for SBA 504 transactions). The role blends outbound business development with hands-on credit structuring, so the ideal candidate is equally comfortable calling on referral sources and business owners as they are analyzing financial statements and SBA eligibility. Locality Bank offers a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment where officers are encouraged to bring new ideas, take ownership of their results, and build long-term relationships in the community.

What Success Looks Like in This Role

• Consistently generates a healthy, well-qualified pipeline of SBA 7(a) and 504 opportunities from referral sources, centers of influence, and the Bank’s Commercial Banking team.
• a fast, clear, and professional experience for borrowers, from initial discovery call through closing and funding.
• Structures sound, SBA-compliant loans that are approved efficiently and perform well over time.
• Cross-sells deposit and treasury management solutions so that SBA borrowers become full-relationship clients of Locality Bank.
• Becomes a recognized, trusted SBA resource within the Bank and across the South Florida business and professional community.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Business Development & Loan Origination

• Proactively prospects, develops, and converts new SBA and commercial lending opportunities, including leads from Centers of Influence (CPAs, attorneys, business brokers, commercial real estate professionals, and other referral partners), secures appointments, and closes sales opportunities.
• Works closely with the Commercial Banking team to source deals from internal partners, conducts regular training on SBA programs and SBA SOP requirements, joins commercial lenders on sales calls, and performs the follow-up necessary to secure strong SBA lending opportunities.
• Develops a thorough understanding of the Bank’s SBA offerings, including the SBA 7(a) Loan, 7(a) Small Loan, International Trade Loan, CAPLines, and the SBA 504 Loan, and is able to explain program eligibility, terms, uses of proceeds, and guaranty fees to prospects and referral partners in plain language.
• Interviews applicants to determine financing needs and gathers the information required for SBA loan applications.
• Promotes the Bank’s deposit and treasury management products to SBA clients and prospects to establish full banking relationships.
• Documents prospecting activity, pipeline status, and client interactions in the Bank’s CRM system and reports pipeline and production regularly to management.

Credit Analysis, Structuring & Underwriting

• Analyzes each applicant’s financial condition, credit history, cash flow, collateral, and asset values to determine the feasibility of the request, and establishes an appropriate loan amount and credit limit through written and/or oral assessment.
• Determines eligibility and the potential for an SBA guaranty in accordance with the current SBA SOP 50 10 (Lender and Development Company Loan Programs) and related SBA policy and procedural notices.
• Structures loans within Locality Bank’s loan policy and SBA requirements, and champions loan opportunities to the Credit Department and/or Loan Committee for proper approval.
• Resolves open questions on application information through follow-up with applicants, creditors, and other third parties.
• Works in tandem with the Bank’s SBA Operations Team to process, underwrite, and close each SBA 7(a) loan.
• Partners with the Bank’s CDC partners to process, underwrite, and close SBA 504 loans.

Closing, Portfolio & Relationship Management

• Prepares and presents the financing proposal and term sheet to the applicant consistent with credit approval.
• Reviews loan documentation prior to closing for completeness and acceptance by the applicant, and ensures timely loan closing and funding.
• Maintains positive, active working relationships with customers, Bank staff, local professionals, and Centers of Influence to expand the customer base and build long-term relationships.
• Assists in managing the loan portfolio, including renewals, modifications, updated credit analysis, collections, and portfolio monitoring.
• Studies and evaluates new markets, programs, policies, and services related to business development, and recommends new products based on identifiable customer needs.
• Community Engagement, Compliance & Other Duties
• Participates in networking events and in community and professional organizations where membership or involvement will enhance the profitable growth of the Bank and its visibility in the market.
• Works closely with the Bank’s Advisory Boards to provide products and services to the community.
• Attends management and staff meetings, as well as sales, pipeline, and credit meetings as required.
• Assures compliance with established Bank policies and procedures and with SBA requirements.
• Complies with regulatory requirements and Bank policies and procedures for BSA/AML/CFT compliance.
• Uses experience and sound judgment to plan and accomplish goals.
• Performs all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Key Performance Measures

• Annual SBA loan production (number and dollar volume of SBA 7(a) and 504 loans closed), measured against goals set annually with the EVP / Chief Revenue Officer.
• Quality and size of the SBA pipeline, including new opportunities sourced and conversion rates.
• Commercial deposit and treasury management relationships generated from SBA clients.
• Loan credit quality, documentation accuracy, and compliance with Bank policy and SBA requirements.
• Referral partner development, internal training provided, and community involvement.

Education and Qualifications Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent required
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Finance, or a related area preferred
• Minimum five years’ experience in small business lending, with experience in marketing, sales, finance, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience originating and structuring SBA 7(a) loans; SBA 504 experience preferred
•  Training in SBA lending and the SBA SOP 50 10 requirements
• Proven record of business development and loan production, with an established network of referral sources in South Florida preferred
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation for local business travel

 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of the banking industry, including business development, sales, and marketing
• Working knowledge of SBA 7(a) and 504 program requirements, eligibility, and SBA SOP 50 10, and of the Bank’s products and services
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal regulations governing the banking industry
• Skill in prospecting, networking, and consultative selling
• Skill in financial statement, tax return, cash flow, and collateral analysis
• Skill in communicating with employees, customers, and referral partners
• Ability to exercise good judgment in establishing and maintaining working relationships
• Ability to handle stressful situations, solve problems, and deliver a high level of accuracy, focus, and timeliness with limited supervision
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Ability to work in an organized manner and manage multiple deals and deadlines simultaneously
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret policies, contracts, credit and financial documents, and other legal documents as needed
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, customers, the Board of Directors, and the public

Competencies

• Proficient with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and other financial software; comfortable using a CRM to manage pipeline and client activity
• Understands the capabilities of the Bank’s core software applications and Information Technology protocols
• Relationship builder with a strong sales drive, self-motivation, and a sense of ownership for results
• Sound credit judgment, attention to detail, and the integrity to uphold Bank and SBA compliance standards
• Collaborative team player who partners well with lenders, underwriters, operations, and credit staff