Mortgage Loan Officer

Who We Are

First Fed is a local community bank on an exciting growth trajectory with 17 locations including 12 full-service branches in Western Washington. First Fed was recognized by the Puget Sound Business Journal as a Best Workplace and a Top Corporate Philanthropist. By popular vote, First Fed received awards for Best Bank in The Best of the Northwest, Best Banker in Readers’ Choice by Cascadia Daily News, and Peninsula Daily News named us Best Bank on the Olympic Peninsula. We also received a Best-In-State bank award from Forbes.  

For over 100 years First Fed has served our customers and communities throughout the PNW. We’ve donated over $9 million to non-profit organizations in the past 8 years through our foundations, sponsorships, direct donations, and matched employee donations. Our amazing team has volunteered over 25,000 hours in the past 5 years – many by using our benefit of 3 paid volunteer days per year!  

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds – our diversity makes us stronger. Join our award-winning team!  

Our Values

Own the Outcome: We take responsibility for our work and are accountable for finding solutions. We own our mistakes and follow through on our commitments.

Listen and Communicate with Clarity:  We listen actively and share information in a timely manner. We set clear expectations and explain the context behind our actions and decisions.

Learn, Grow and Improve: Guided by curiosity, we embrace feedback, learning, innovation, and change. We leverage our strengths and explore opportunities for continual growth.

Integrity in Action: We act with honesty and transparency and speak up about concerns. We do what is right and make ethical decisions even when it is difficult.

Engage with Respect and Empathy:  We treat everyone with dignity, kindness, patience, and professionalism. We listen to understand, value different perspectives, and assume positive intent.

Unite as One Team: We collaborate across roles, teams, and departments. We share ideas, offer support, and work together to meet shared goals.

Put Customers and Community First: We focus on understanding and addressing customer needs, building high trust relationships, and delivering a personalized and seamless experience. By serving customers well, we honor our commitment to the communities we serve.

Local Banking. Stronger Communities. Proudly Pacific Northwest.

Position Purpose:

Under general direction, the Mortgage Loan Officer conducts effective mortgage loan generation efforts for the Mortgage Lending Center market area by responding to customer inquiries and pursuing referrals that are generated from both their own contacts and from other bank business channels.

Incumbents will be seasoned producing loan originators whose key responsibilities include originating consumer and mortgage loan products to the targeted servicing market. The ideal candidates are those with current experience in lending coupled with a primary focus of actively seeking clients. You must be goal driven and stay up to date on lending programs, policies and procedures.

Essential Functions:

• Originate residential mortgage loans to the targeted servicing market.
• Respond to customer inquiries and pursue referrals that are generated from personal and bank business channels.
• Conduct interviews with prospective borrowers in order to analyze financial and credit data, determine customer financing objectives, advise customers of product/pricing policies and guidelines, and gather any additional required information.
• Prepare loan applications for mortgage loan products.
• Set customer expectations for additional information needs and closing date.
• Generate preliminary disclosures and review them with the applicant.
• Request and collect required customer information to support the application process.
• Respond in a timely manner to requests for information needed or to clarify issues identified to process loan applications.
• Effectively manage loan production pipeline to ensure accuracy at all times.
• Coordinate the loan closing with the customer and, if used, closing agent/title Company.
• Communicate closing date to affected parties; perform pre-closing review of loan documents individually and, if requested, with loan customer.
• Unless assigned to outside vendor, perform loan closing.
• Attend closings as required or requested. As necessary, decline or condition loans that are not acceptable to the Bank as requested based on loan policy and credit guidelines.
• Follow all regulatory guidance in the communication of such denials/counter-offers to the applicant.
• Provide exceptional customer service by maintaining thorough knowledge of lending programs, policies, procedures and regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrate a commitment to professional ethics in the performance of all lending activities and ensures compliance with all Federal and State compliance policies and adhering to HMDA requirements.
• Establish and promote networking opportunities within the community that will aid in the promotion of Bank products.
• Educate the customer on Bank products, pricing, underwriting and regulatory guideline. The goal will be to aid the presentation of appropriate products that will match the customer’s needs.
• Support the cross-sell efforts outside of lending to aid in the attainment of goals for deposits and other fee services.
• Maintain a high standard of professionalism and support for overall customer service goals in personal responsibilities and in support of lending team.
• As requested, support the collection efforts on delinquent and distressed loans.
• Participate in designed training programs to: Enhance knowledge of Bank standards, products, guidelines and policies, regulatory guidelines and documentation and compliance needs; expand knowledge of industry and changes requiring adjustments in process; coordinate process needs with Underwriters, Processors, Closers and Funders.
• Ensure compliance with Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) regulations and other federal and state regulations pertinent to this position.
• Complete annual BSA training in a timely manner in accordance with BSA regulations and internal policies and procedures.
• Maintain regular and predictable attendance.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as required and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• High School Diploma or the equivalent.
• Typically requires two to three years of demonstrated and effective experience in mortgage loan origination. 
• The ideal candidates are those with current experience in lending coupled with a primary focus of actively seeking clients.
• Knowledge of conventional and/or government guidelines relevant to mortgage lending.
• Knowledge of processing underwriting and/or closing procedures/federal lending regulations governing real estate lending.
• Incumbent must be goal driven and maintain current knowledge of lending programs, policies and procedures.
• Demonstrated sales skills with strong presentation and customer service capabilities.
• Working knowledge of regulatory requirements for mortgage lending.
• Strong interpersonal skills and comfort in dealing with customers in a sales-promoted environment is required.
• Demonstrated ability to meet established goals through effective time management that allows handling of multiple transactions throughout the workday.
• Develop and maintain a sound knowledge of Bank policies, procedures, documentation and compliance requirements.
• Proficiency with PC applications including MS Office Suite.
• NMLS required.

Physical Requirements: 

The work requires the ability to operate office machines and equipment, such as personal computers, printers, copying machines and telephones. The work requires the ability to communicate clearly with customers, coworkers, and others in person and on telephones. Work activities involve combinations of sitting/standing for extended periods.

Pay Range

• The pay for this role is $3500 monthly draw against commissions.
• The incentive plan for this position is the Mortgage Incentive plan. It is paid out monthly with a tiered Bps system.
• Employees will be eligible for our benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, paid time off, retirement plans (401k with company match and Employee Stock Ownership Plan), gym membership reimbursement, discounts on our banking products, and more!  Additional information on our benefits package can be viewed at https://www.ourfirstfed.com/careers 

As a community Bank, we know the power in bringing people together from all walks of life. Our communities are beautiful and strong because of their diversity, and it’s important to us that all of our locations reflect the unique diversity of the places we live and work. We are passionate about hiring the very best talent and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran

First Fed invites all qualified interested applicants to apply for our career opportunities.  If you are a person with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to use our online job search or application tools, please email Human Resources  via [email protected] or call 360-417-3182.  Note: This contact information is reserved solely for job seekers requesting accessibility assistance or accommodation in the application process.  Messages left for other purposes may not receive a response.

We are required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.