Deputy Chief Credit Officer (Deputy CCO)

The Deputy Chief Credit Officer (Deputy CCO) helps lead the bank’s enterprise credit risk management program, partnering closely with the Chief Credit Officer to set credit strategy, maintain strong underwriting and portfolio management discipline, and uphold effective risk governance. This role provides oversight and guidance to assigned markets with elevated credit approval authority to support prudent, profitable growth within the bank’s risk appetite. The ideal candidate is a seasoned credit leader with broad lending expertise (commercial, mortgage, and consumer), strong regulatory fluency, and the ability to influence credit culture and decision-making across an organization through close partnership, collaboration, and active engagement with market leaders.

Credit Risk Leadership & Strategy
Partner with the Chief Credit Officer to develop and execute the bank’s enterprise credit risk strategy.
Coordinate with assigned markets to execute loan growth aligned with credit risk appetite, portfolio concentration limits, and credit quality standards.
Lead strategic initiatives to strengthen credit governance and portfolio diversification.
Participate in the development and implementation of enhanced loan origination systems and processes.

Portfolio Oversight
Monitor the performance, trends, and emerging risks across all loan portfolios (commercial, CRE, consumer, small business).
Review and approve complex or high-risk credit requests within delegated authority.
Use delegated credit approval authority and escalate transactions, exceptions, and risks to the Chief Credit Officer or credit committees as needed.
Identify deteriorating credits, ensure timely risk rating changes, and support market remediation strategies.

Policy, Governance & Controls
Co-own the maintenance and enforcement of credit policy, underwriting standards, and the risk rating framework.
Ensure alignment with regulatory expectations and internal audit requirements.
Partner and collaborate with Loan Review to reinforce best practices and serve as a subject matter resource to support assigned markets in developing timely, effective response plans to loan review findings.

Leadership & Collaboration
Provide guidance and mentorship to lending and credit staff in assigned markets.
Partner with market senior lenders to balance growth objectives with prudent risk management; support and lead communication of this balance to assigned markets.
Represent the credit function in senior level capacity in relevant committees (Large Loan Committee and Credit Management Committee) as a voting member.

Regulatory & Audit Engagement
Support regulatory examinations and internal/external audits related to credit risk; help assigned markets develop and execute response and action plans.
Ensure timely remediation of relevant assigned findings with an emphasis on continuous improvement of credit processes.

Analytics & Reporting
Oversee preparation of credit risk reports for executive leadership and the Board.
Use data driven insights to identify trends, forecast risk, and recommend strategic actions.
Enhance stress testing, portfolio analytics, and industry/segment risk analysis to strengthen proactive risk management.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in finance, business, economics, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
15+ years of progressive experience in credit risk, commercial lending, and/or credit administration within a bank.
Experience serving as a senior credit leader and/or in a senior commercial lending role.

Required Skills & Competencies
Deep understanding of credit underwriting, portfolio management, and risk rating systems.
Strong knowledge of regulatory frameworks and expectations for credit risk management.
Proven ability to evaluate complex credit structures and make sound risk decisions.
Experience with credit analytics, stress testing, and risk modeling tools.

Preferred Qualifications
MBA or relevant graduate degree.
20+ years of banking experience with enterprise credit leadership responsibility.

Leadership & Behavioral Competencies
Strategic thinker with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to lead through change and foster a disciplined, risk aware culture.
High integrity, sound judgment, and a commitment to prudent risk management.

Why This Role Matters
The Deputy CCO is a pivotal leader who ensures the bank grows safely, maintains strong asset quality, and navigates evolving economic and regulatory environments. This role directly shapes the bank’s credit culture and long term risk posture.