Chief Lending Officer

Recognizing and valuing diversity strengthens our ability to attract, retain and engage associates and reinforces our relationship within our communities. Our associates are the most valuable asset we have. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge and talent that our associates invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture, but our reputation and company's achievement as well.

A Centier Associate is someone who embodies a servant heart, is unaccepting of anything less than remarkable service, and is self-motivated and driven to deliver exceptional results.

What are our values? Our Corporate values are Caring, Loyalty, Integrity, Friendship, Fun....who wouldn't want to work for an AWARD-WINNING companythat's built on these pillars?

What about the perks? Access to our Marathon Health Clinics which provide FREE visits & prescriptions, Generous Paid Time Off benefit, Tuition Reimbursement, 401K match, Associate Stock Ownership Plan, Daycare Reimbursement, FREE Onsite Fitness Center/Fitness Reimbursements, Health and Wellness Programs, the ability to have a voice with our Diversity/Equity/Inclusion Council, Career Growth, Work/Life Balance, AND MORE.

Supervisory Duties: The Chief Lending Officer has responsibility over a diverse set of lending activities, including but not limited to:

• Commercial C&I & CRE Lending (incl. Syndications & Participations)
• Business Banking
• Life Insurance Premium Finance
• Residential Lending / Consumer Loans
• Mortgage Warehouse Lending

The CLO is accountable for providing leadership, guidance, and strategic direction to these areas as assigned, ensuring alignment with the bank's objectives and risk appetite.

Job Summary:

The Chief Lending Officer (CLO) serves as the bank's senior credit executive, responsible for leading all lending activities across commercial, consumer, and specialty portfolios. As the first line of defense in credit risk management, the CLO ensures the lending function operates in alignment with the bank's strategic objectives, risk appetite, and regulatory expectations. The CLO oversees portfolio growth, profitability margins, credit quality, risk diversification, and client selectivity, while driving profitable and sustainable lending practices while aligning with the bank's mission as a values-driven, relationship-focused $15B mid-size community bank, expanding throughout the state of Indiana.

The CLO partners closely with the Chief Credit Officer (CCO) to balance growth with sound credit discipline. While the CLO focuses on originating and managing client relationships, credit production, and loan portfolio performance, the CCO provides independent oversight, risk monitoring, and approval authority as part of the second line of defense. Together, they ensure strong risk governance, consistent credit standards, and a healthy balance between business development and prudent risk management.

In addition, the CLO ensures that loans are structured and priced appropriately based on risk, aligning terms with the bank's return objectives and overall risk appetite. This discipline supports both sustainable portfolio performance and long-term shareholder value and future lending and business niches.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership:

• Develop and implement the bank's lending strategy to achieve growth and profitability goals while maintaining sound risk management practices.
• Serve as a member of the Senior leadership team, contributing to overall banking strategy, policy formation, and decision-making.
• Ensure lending activities align with the bank's mission, vision, purpose, values, growth, profitability targets, and risk appetite statement.
• Promote a culture of performance, accountability, engagement and customer-centric service throughout all lending teams.

Lending Oversight:

• Act as the first line of defense for all credit risk management within the lending function.
• Establish and monitor credit policies, underwriting standards, and portfolio management practices to maintain high credit quality.
• Monitor and manage portfolio concentration risks, and develop strategies to ensure diversification across industries, geographies, and client segments.
• Enforce client selectivity standards in line with the bank's risk appetite, ensuring lending decisions support sustainable growth.
• Coordinate with finance and credit risk for stress testing, scenario analysis, and risk reporting related to the loan portfolio.
• Coordinate with finance on hedging strategies to manage interest rate risk within the loan portfolio.
• Partner with the Chief Credit Officer to align credit approval processes, strengthen risk governance, and ensure portfolio quality.
• Ensure all credits are structured and priced appropriately for the level of risk, balancing client needs with the bank's required return and long-term portfolio performance.

Risk Management & Compliance:

• Provide regular reporting to the Chief Banking Officer, Board of Directors, and appropriate Board Committee on portfolio performance, credit risk trends, and emerging issues.
• Ensure effective governance and oversight of all lending activities, including adherence to applicable laws, regulations, and bank policies.

Team Development & Performance:

• Lead, mentor, and develop the bank's lending teams, including commercial, consumer, and specialty lenders. Help hire and recruit future seasoned bankers and develop current bankers.
• Ensure efficient loan origination, underwriting, approval, and portfolio monitoring processes.
• Drive consistent application of credit policies and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and internal controls.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key clients, community leaders, and stakeholders.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Proven experience overseeing diverse lending portfolios at a $15B to $50B bank
• Strong knowledge of credit administration, loan operations, and evaluating loan portfolio performance and asset quality.
• Working knowledge of loan participation, purchase agreements, secondary market investment programs, additional lending niches, etc.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret legal documents, government regulations, financial reports, and industry publications. Skilled in preparing and presenting reports and responding to inquiries from senior management, attorneys, vendors, and regulatory agencies.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams across multiple business lines with clarity, collaboration, and vision.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Strategic thinker and planner with a hands-on approach to execution and performance management.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business, Finance, or related field required; MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 20 years of progressive banking experience with at least 10 years in a senior lending leadership role at a mid-size bank.

What do I do now?

• Apply with us!
• Refer this opening to others!

Disability Accommodation Statement
Centier Bank is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities in the employment application process. If you need an accommodation due to a disability to use our online system to apply for a position at Centier Bank, please call us at 219-755-6160 or send us an email at hrcareers@centier.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Disability/Veteran
Centier Bankis proud to have an engaged and inclusive culture and to promote and ensure equal employment opportunity in all employment decisions regardless of race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, veteran status or any other legally protected status.