Loan Officers and Commercial, Mortgage, and Consumer Lending
A loan officer is an official who works at a bank, credit union, credit card company, or another financial institution. There are personal loan and mortgage officers, and their responsibilities vary depending on the financial institution.
Tasks and responsibilities
Loan officers are responsible for approving loans and mortgages, gathering information about applicants, and explaining the application process. They explain to clients the differences between financial options, the products offered, the interest rates, terms, penalties and fees, and other important details. Representatives also look at the client’s credit score, income, financial status, and loans to determine whether he is a risky borrower. They have additional responsibilities such as reviewing, assessing, and updating loan and credit files and compiling information such as financial statements, credit histories, and others. They identify potential business relationships, develop networks, and maintain contacts with different professionals. Sales reps participate in different industry organizations and associations, community efforts, and development opportunities.
They also respond to client inquiries and referrals and offer advice and information on pricing policies, payment schedules, debt consolidation, and product policies. They analyze the financial situation and objectives of borrowers and offer advice on requirements, procedures and policies, and more. In addition to these responsibilities, officers present information about new products and lending opportunities and explain the guidelines. They maintain contacts with business partners and existing customers. Sales reps also use marketing strategies such as networking and cold calling to attract new clients.
Additional responsibilities
Loan officers assess applications to ensure that borrowers meet the lending criteria. To this, they work with different professionals, including sales assistants, mortgage associates, and mortgage coordinators. They review agreements and contracts to make sure that the information is accurate and free of errors and omissions. Officers also calculate repayment schedules and offer an interest rate based on the applicant’s payment and borrowing history.
Loan officers should stay up-to-date and abreast of different lending solutions and financial products and services. They specialize in various types of lending, including mortgage, consumer, and business or commercial. Commercial lending involves offering loans to corporations and medium-size and small businesses. Representatives who specialize in mortgage lending extend mortgages to individual borrowers who seek to refinance or buy a real estate property. Officers who specialize in consumer lending offer different products, including auto, student, and personal loans, credit cards, personal lines of credit, and others.
Loan and mortgage officers also accept and handle complaints from clients. They work to solve application and other problems and set terms, credit limits, and other credit-related policies. Some reps also supervise other bank employees. They negotiate with business and individual customers regarding repayment terms, interest rates, and other payment arrangements. This usually happens when a customer faces financial difficulties and is about to default.
Education and specialization
A Bachelor’s degree is normally required by most financial establishments. Courses in economics, accounting, finance, and business administration are helpful. Some companies and banks give preference to candidates with an MBA, depending on the position. A special license or certification is usually not required. Mortgage lending is an exception, when it comes to specialized establishments such as mortgage brokerages and banks. Some financial institutions also require lending experience on a related position. Most sales reps work at a local office or branch, but some employees work variable hours. The compensation scheme varies from one bank to another, but it is usually commission-based. One downside is that officers responsible for marketing the bank’s products are under heavy pressure to sell, meet deadlines and sales goals, and outperform.
Related Articles
Loans for Borrowers with Money Problems
Bad credit loans are offered to borrowers with financial problems, poor payment history, delinquencies, bankruptcies, arrears, and missed payments. Private lenders and other financial organizations offer financing to people with poor scores, rating, and history. Features Lenders offer two types of...
Business Financing for Professionals
A business loan is a form of financing offered to companies that seek to purchase real estate, machinery and equipment or to finance projects that help increase revenues and profits. Many entrepreneurs need start-up capital while established businesses seek to expand their operations. Types of...