Business Banking & Lending Officer

Job Summary

We seek the services of a results-driven professional to work with us as Business Banking & Lending Officer .

The Business Banking & Lending Officer will be responsible for sourcing, acquiring, and managing SME, business, and corporate banking relationships while driving loan origination, credit assessment, disbursement, portfolio management, and repayment. The successful candidate will identify viable business opportunities, develop client relationships, facilitate lending transactions, and provide appropriate financial solutions to support business growth.

The role is critical to achieving the Bank's business development, IPPIS lending, loan growth, portfolio quality, revenue generation, and repayment objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Client Acquisition: Source, acquire, onboard, and manage new SME, business, corporate, and individual clients through direct marketing, referrals, networking, and strategic partnerships.
• Business Development: Identify viable businesses and lending opportunities within assigned markets and develop them into quality loan and business relationships.
• IPPIS Lending: Drive the sourcing, onboarding, processing, and disbursement of IPPIS-related loan facilities to eligible public-sector employees in line with the Bank's approved lending policies and procedures.
• Credit & Loan Facilitation: Identify lending opportunities, initiate and facilitate loan applications, and ensure that all required documentation is properly obtained and completed.
• Credit Assessment: Conduct preliminary credit assessments and analyze customers' financial statements, cash flows, repayment capacity, employment/income profile, and business viability.
• Credit Proposal: Prepare and submit quality credit proposals in line with the Bank's credit policies, procedures, and risk appetite.
• Loan Processing & Disbursement: Liaise with Credit, Risk, Operations, and other relevant units to ensure timely processing, approval, documentation, and disbursement of approved facilities.
• Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with customers to drive customer retention, account activity, cross-selling, and portfolio growth.
• Portfolio Management: Monitor assigned loan and customer portfolios to ensure proper utilization of facilities, compliance with approved terms and conditions, and optimal account performance.
• Loan Repayment & Recovery: Track loan repayment schedules and proactively follow up on outstanding obligations, overdue accounts, and delinquent loans to minimize portfolio-at-risk.
• Market Development: Conduct regular market visits to identify new business opportunities, acquire new customers, and deepen existing client relationships.
• Financial Advisory: Provide appropriate financial solutions and advisory support to clients on working capital, business expansion, cash flow management, and other financing needs.
• Compliance & Documentation: Ensure all client onboarding, loan processing, documentation, and transactions comply with the Bank's policies, KYC requirements, regulatory guidelines, and applicable CBN/NDIC requirements.
• Performance Management: Achieve and surpass assigned targets for loan disbursement, IPPIS lending, portfolio growth, deposits, revenue generation, customer acquisition, and loan repayment.
• Reporting: Prepare and submit periodic reports on business development activities, IPPIS lending performance, loan portfolio performance, collections, customer acquisition, and other assigned KPIs.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree/HND in Banking & Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Marketing, or any other related discipline.
• Minimum of 2 years' relevant experience in lending, credit, business banking, relationship management, microfinance, or commercial banking.
• Proven experience in loan origination, credit assessment, customer acquisition, and portfolio management.
• Experience in IPPIS lending or public-sector lending will be an added advantage.
• Good understanding of financial statements, cash-flow analysis, credit appraisal, and lending principles.
• Experience managing SME and business banking customers is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of loan recovery, portfolio monitoring, and credit risk management will be an added advantage.
• Good understanding of banking operations, KYC requirements, and regulatory compliance.

Core Competencies

• Strong business development and customer acquisition skills.
• Excellent credit appraisal and financial analysis abilities.
• Strong relationship management and networking skills.
• Strong knowledge of lending and loan portfolio management.
• Excellent sales, negotiation, communication, and presentation skills.
• Strong target-driven and results-oriented mindset.
• Excellent loan repayment monitoring and recovery skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• High level of initiative, accountability, and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and effectively under pressure.
• Strong computer proficiency and ability to work with financial and business data.
• High integrity, professionalism, and commitment to confidentiality.

What You Can Expect

• Competitive remuneration
• Performance-driven incentives and career growth opportunities
• Professional and collaborative work environment
• Opportunity to develop expertise in business banking, IPPIS lending, credit, and portfolio management
• Opportunity to build and manage a strong customer and loan portfolio
• Opportunity to contribute to financial inclusion and sustainable economic growth