Chief Credit Officer

Job Description

Job Description

At Unity Bank, our culture is built on trust, care, and connection. We believe in meaningful work, open collaboration, and authentic relationships. Here, every employee takes pride in their role, empowered to make a difference—for our clients, our communities, and each other.

We’re more than a bank—we’re a community partner. When clients choose Unity, they invest in local dreams : planting seeds with farmers, opening doors on Main Street, and creating opportunities for neighbors.

We listen. We care. We connect. Every conversation matters, and every solution is crafted with heart. Together, we help people achieve their dreams—one relationship at a time.

Position Summary : The Chief Credit Officer (CCO) is responsible for overall bank credit quality and risk management, including monitoring portfolio mix and margin, classified assets, past-dues and exceptions within the policies and procedures established by the Board of Directors and Bank management. The CCO will work collaboratively across the organization to support the credit and sales vision and team environment.

As a member of the Bank’s executive team, this role is responsible for helping develop and execute the overall Bank’s strategies, objectives and business plans. This would include building the bank’s position within the marketplace through community involvement, multi-product banking solutions, and building and maintaining enduring relationships with customers.

The CCO is responsible for providing leadership to the Bank on all issues regarding lending and asset quality.

Primary Location : Onsite / Hybrid - Minnesota or Wisconsin.

Responsibilities / Accountabilities :

• Asset Quality : Manage all aspects of bank wide credit policy, credit administration and loan review. This includes recommending and executing appropriate credit committees, sub-committees, loan limits, exception process, etc. Oversee and ensure sound credit decisions bank wide. This will be accomplished by reviewing commercial loan requests and approving loans within established lending requirement. Owner of loan repayments, work-outs, collections and foreclosure activities.
• Documentation : Ensure protection of Bank’s interests by ensuring adequate documentation and adherence to Bank policy and to laws / regulations applicable to department operations.
• Credit Risk Management : Ensure proper measurement and reporting are in place to appropriate manage credit risk. Examples include : Allowance for Loan Losses (ALLL), loan stress testing, credit concentrations, exception reporting, credit score deterioration, trend analysis.
• Relationship Management : In partnership with the Chief Commercial Relationship Manager to develop, implement and model a sales and service culture focused on new business development and growth of existing customer relationships. Will partner to also manage the loan portfolio for appropriate mix, ensuring profitability without significant risk to the Bank.
• Team Leadership : Coach, lead, motivate, and oversee credit team, fostering a positive environment and ensuring a customer centric, high standard of service delivery while achieving bank growth and credit quality goals.
• Committees : Actively participate in all Credit Committee meetings and serve as a voting member
• Reporting and Audits : Serve as principal contact with the examiners and auditors on periodic exams and audits related to lending or credit risk
• Compliance : Correct and address any findings in a manner that limits recurrence and promotes adherence to policies and regulations

Education and Experience :

Work Environment : Collaborative, trust-based, transparent, supportive, and comfortable community atmosphere. This position may include opportunities to travel across our footprint, working with customers, community members, and our Unity Team.

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

Regulatory Standards : Financial Institutions must adopt and comply with regulatory requirements. All employees of Unity Bank are required to comply with these standards and practices. Employees will be responsible for participation in training sessions for these regulatory compliance requirements. This will be offered through online sessions, department meetings, bank wide training, and other such media. In addition, compliance training that is specific to job responsibilities will be conducted. Any employee that knowingly fails to comply with the requirements, as outlined in the Compliance Manual and the related guidelines may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.

Benefits : 401(k), 401(k) matching, Dental insurance, Disability insurance, Employee assistance program, Health insurance, Health savings account, Flexible Spending Account, Life insurance, Paid time off, Vision insurance, Pet Wellness.

Discretionary Pay : Eligible Bonus Pay

Unity Bank is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This is a position for which :