Chief Credit Officer

Stuart T. Smith

Senior Vice President & Principal

Community Bank

Position Summary:

 
The Chief Credit Officer (CCO) will oversee the quality and performance of the bank’s credit portfolio, providing leadership across credit functions including underwriting, credit administration, SBA lending, and credit analysis. Reporting to the CEO, the CCO will ensure sound credit policies, mitigate risk, and drive portfolio growth while also building out the credit portfolio management team and refining operational processes for efficiency and compliance. This role will collaborate closely with internal departments and serve as a key liaison to the Board and regulatory agencies.

The ideal candidate brings 15+ years of credit leadership experience in financial services, with deep expertise in community and commercial banking. They should possess broad credit knowledge across CRE, C&I, ABL, leveraged finance, and municipal segments, and a proven ability to lead, structure, and monitor a diverse credit portfolio. Strong collaboration skills, executive presence, and a hands-on leadership approach are essential to shaping a forward-looking credit culture and supporting the bank’s growth trajectory.