About Our Client
Our client is a relationship-focused community bank with operations serving Oklahoma and Texas markets. The bank is recognized for its personalized service, strong community involvement, and diversified lending platform that includes commercial, healthcare, mortgage, consumer, and specialty lending solutions. The organization emphasizes integrity, relationship banking, and disciplined growth while maintaining strong credit quality and risk management practices.
Position Overview
Our client is seeking an experienced Chief Credit Officer (CCO) to provide strategic leadership and oversight of the bank's credit administration function. This executive will be responsible for maintaining the overall quality and performance of the loan portfolio while ensuring sound credit risk management practices across all lending segments.
The Chief Credit Officer will partner closely with executive leadership, lending teams, and the Board of Directors to support sustainable growth, regulatory compliance, and prudent credit decision-making.
Key Responsibilities
Lead the bank's overall credit risk management strategy and framework.
Oversee credit administration, underwriting standards, loan policies, and credit approval processes.
Maintain strong asset quality through proactive portfolio monitoring and risk management.
Review and approve complex commercial, commercial real estate, healthcare, mortgage, and specialty lending relationships.
Chair and participate in Loan Committee and Credit Committee meetings.
Develop and maintain credit policies consistent with regulatory expectations and industry best practices.
Monitor portfolio concentrations, risk ratings, criticized assets, and problem loan trends.
Oversee loan review processes and ensure timely identification of emerging credit risks.
Manage workout strategies, restructures, special assets, and problem loan resolution efforts.
Ensure compliance with applicable banking regulations, credit administration requirements, and internal policies.
Partner with lending teams to balance growth objectives with sound credit practices.
Provide regular portfolio and credit risk reporting to executive management and the Board of Directors.
Support regulatory examinations, internal audits, and external loan review activities.
Mentor and develop credit analysts, portfolio managers, and credit administration staff.
Promote a strong credit culture focused on consistency, accountability, and relationship banking.
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field (MBA preferred).
10-15+ years of progressive banking experience with significant credit administration and commercial lending expertise.
Previous experience serving in a senior credit leadership role within a community or regional bank.
Strong knowledge of commercial, commercial real estate, healthcare, consumer, and mortgage lending.
Deep understanding of credit analysis, risk rating systems, portfolio management, and loan structuring.
Demonstrated experience managing criticized assets, workout strategies, and special assets.
Thorough knowledge of federal and state banking regulations and regulatory expectations.
Experience working directly with executive leadership, loan committees, regulators, and boards of directors.
Excellent leadership, communication, and relationship management skills.
High level of integrity, professionalism, and sound judgment.
Preferred Experience
Community bank leadership experience.
Experience supporting growth across Oklahoma and Texas markets.
Background in healthcare banking, commercial real estate, and specialty lending programs.
Strong familiarity with regulatory examinations and enterprise risk management practices.
Graduate banking school or advanced banking certifications preferred.
Working Environment
Professional office environment.
Executive leadership role with significant interaction across all business lines.
Collaborative, relationship-driven culture.
Regular engagement with lending teams, executive management, regulators, auditors, and Board members.
Opportunity to influence strategic growth while preserving a strong credit culture and community banking philosophy.