Rural 1st Loan Officer Trainee - Kentucky

About Our Opportunity

This is a trainee level position. The Rural 1st Loan Officer Trainee's (RLO Trainee) primary responsibility is to gain the knowledge, skill, ability and experience to become a fully-functional Rural 1st Loan Officer.

The Rural 1st Loan  Officer (RLO) is a sales position responsible for building relationships with customers in the consumer market segment. The RLO will use their knowledge of finance to fully understand the customer's or prospects' business and personal plans and then market the Farm Credit Mid-America financial services that best meet their needs.

The RLO Trainee will learn what is necessary to originate credit by assessing the request and obtaining business and financial information needed to determine the viability and profitability of the deal. After initially screening for soundness, the RLO Trainee will work with their supervisor and/or development partner to:  assess the customer's needs; determine how best to meet those needs; and to obtain the business and financial information needed for the credit team to make a good credit decision. The RLO Trainee will be coached on how to lead the customer relationship and coordinate with others to serve the customer's loan, lease, crop insurance and servicing needs.

How You Will Spend Your Time

SALES and RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT
The RLO Trainee will develop and maintain a significant professional presence throughout the assigned territory. They will spend time learning how to build professional relationships with customers, prospective customers and influencers based on mutual trust and respect. The objective is to understand customer goals, credit strengths and weaknesses, and deliver “value added”/constructive agricultural and/or financial information that will assist them in their farming businesses.

The RLO Trainee will learn how to determine and define the appropriate customer interaction and coordinate the appropriate staff that may directly or indirectly be a part of the relationship to serve the customer’s loan, lease, crop insurance and servicing needs. The RLO Trainee also ensures appropriate communication to the customer and to internal team members regarding the customer.

DELIVER SOUND CREDIT
As part of the ongoing consultative relationship with our customers, the RLO Trainee will learn to interpret and evaluate financial information and ask appropriate follow-up and probing questions to determine the appropriate product or service. The RLO Trainee will learn to effectively recommend loan terms, conditions, and collateral position consistent with the request and associated loan risks, and then set clear expectations with the customer.

SERVICE PORTFOLIO
To minimize association risk and losses, the RLO Trainee will learn how to monitor the portfolio to timely identify and service loans that expose the association to risk. Using his/her knowledge of servicing options, the RLO Trainee will effectively negotiate and communicate these options to the customer.

** Trainees are full-time employees and for this opening must be open to working in Kentucky. Within the first 12 months of employment, you will be expected to apply for a full-time Rural 1st Loan Officer position across our four-state region (OH, KY, TN, IN). This role is approximately a 12 month opportunity.

Minimum Education & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Business, or a related field.
OR
High School Diploma/GED with at least 5 years of experience in sales, banking, or a financially related role.

Mental & Physical Requirements

While engaged in this position, team members will routinely sit, use hands for tasks, and communicate orally. Standing or walking is frequently required, while occasional demands include reaching with hands and arms, and lifting or moving up to ten pounds. Vision requirements encompass close and distance vision. The work environment typically has a moderate noise level. This role may entail a blend of mental and physical capabilities, requiring strong mental acuity, problem-solving skills, and occasional physical tasks such as standing, lifting, or extended computer usage. Some roles may require physical or mental requirements related to driving, such as a valid driver's license, and the ability to drive a long-distance. Reasonable accommodations will be considered for individuals as requested.