Senior Vice President Head of Commercial Real Estate Lending

At Customers Bank, we believe in working hard, working smart, working together to deliver memorable customer experiences and having fun. Our vision, mission, and values guide us along our path to achieve excellence. Passion, attitude, creativity, integrity, alignment, and execution are cornerstones of our behaviors. They define who we are as an organization and as individuals. Everyone is encouraged to have personal development plans. By doing so, our team members are on their way to achieve their highest potential and be successful in their personal and professional lives.

Salary range: An annual salary range of $275,000–$285,000 is what we expect to pay for this position, based on overall skills and experience.

Work Location: Hybrid in Los Angeles, CA – our office in Sherman Oaks, CA is the closest for the hybrid work model.

Must be legally eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship, now or in the future, to be considered.

Who is Customers Bank?

Founded in 2009, Customers Bank is a super-community bank with over $22 billion in assets. We believe in dedicated personal service for the businesses, professionals, individuals, and families we work with.

We get you further, faster.

Focused on you: We provide every customer with a single point of contact. A dedicated team member who’s committed to meeting your needs today and tomorrow.

On the leading edge: We’re innovating with the latest tools and technology so we can react to market conditions quicker and help you get ahead.

Proven reliability: We always ground our innovation in our deep experience and strong financial foundation, so we’re a partner you can trust.

What You’ll Do:

The Head of Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Lending West Coast is responsible for leading the bank's commercial real estate West Coast lending strategy, business development, portfolio management, and team performance. This executive oversees loan production, underwriting quality, portfolio risk, regulatory compliance, and relationship management while driving profitable growth aligned with the institution's strategic objectives. The role requires a balance of sales leadership, credit expertise, risk management, and talent development.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute the commercial real estate West Coast team and lending strategy to achieve growth, profitability, and portfolio quality objectives.
• Establish annual loan production goals, portfolio targets, and market expansion initiatives.
• Monitor industry trends, economic conditions, and competitive dynamics to identify opportunities and risks.
• Collaborate with executive leadership on strategic planning and capital allocation.

Business Development

• Lead origination efforts for new commercial real estate lending opportunities.
• Cultivate relationships with developers, investors, brokers, attorneys, CPAs, and other referral sources.
• Expand market share through proactive calling efforts and community engagement.
• Structure complex lending solutions that meet customer needs while adhering to credit standards.

Portfolio & Credit Management

• Oversee the underwriting, approval, and monitoring of commercial real estate loans.
• Ensure the portfolio maintains strong credit quality through ongoing risk assessment and portfolio reviews.
• Partner with Credit Administration to evaluate complex credit requests and loan structures.
• Manage concentrations, criticized assets, renewals, modifications, and problem loan strategies.

Team Leadership

• Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of commercial real estate lenders and support staff.
• Set performance expectations and provide coaching to maximize production and portfolio quality.
• Foster a collaborative, customer-focused, and results-oriented culture.
• Conduct performance evaluations and succession planning.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements, internal credit policies, and lending procedures.
• Participate in regulatory examinations, internal audits, and loan reviews.
• Maintain strong governance around documentation, covenant monitoring, and exception tracking.
• Recommend policy enhancements based on changing market conditions.

Financial Performance

• Manage profitability through pricing discipline, loan mix, deposit generation, and cross-selling opportunities.
• Monitor production pipelines, portfolio performance, and key financial metrics.
• Prepare reports and presentations for executive management and the Board of Directors.
• Contribute to budget development and expense management.

What Do You Need?

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, Economics, or a related field; MBA or advanced financial designation preferred.
• 10–15+ years of progressive commercial real estate lending experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience managing commercial lending teams.
• Demonstrated success originating and managing complex CRE transactions.
• Strong knowledge of commercial underwriting, financial statement analysis, cash flow modeling, appraisal review, and loan structuring.
• Comprehensive understanding of banking regulations, credit policy, and risk management practices.
• Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and relationship management skills.
• Proven ability to build high-performing teams and drive business growth.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with income-producing properties, multifamily, industrial, retail, office, and mixed-use projects as well as construction lending.
• Familiarity with portfolio management systems and commercial loan origination platforms.
• Strong network within the local commercial real estate community.
• Experience presenting to executive leadership, loan committees, and boards.

Key Competencies

• Strategic leadership
• Commercial lending expertise
• Credit and risk management
• Business development
• Relationship management
• Team leadership and coaching
• Financial acumen
• Decision-making and judgment
• Negotiation and influencing skills
• Regulatory and compliance knowledge

Performance Measures

• Commercial real estate loan production
• Portfolio growth and profitability
• Credit quality and delinquency metrics
• Non-performing asset levels
• Client acquisition and retention
• Cross-sell and deposit growth
• Team engagement and retention
• Regulatory examination and audit results
• Achievement of strategic business objectives

This position is ideal for a seasoned commercial banking executive who combines strong production capabilities with disciplined credit oversight and the ability to lead a high-performing lending organization.

Customers Bank is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

We also provide “reasonable accommodations”, upon request, to qualified individuals with disabilities, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local laws. 

Diversity Statement:

At Customers Bank, we believe in working smart, working together, and having fun while delivering innovative solutions and memorable experiences for our customers. We are committed to the continual advancement of a culture which reflects the value we place on diversity, equity, and inclusion. We honor the diverse experiences, perspectives, and identities of our team members, and we recognize that it is their passion, creativity, and integrity that drives our success. Step into your future with us! Let’s take on tomorrow.