VP, Senior Commercial Lender at Pathfinder Bank – Syracuse, New York

The VP, Senior Commercial Lender is responsible for originating, structuring, and managing a portfolio of commercial and commercial real estate (CRE) relationships. This role is intended for an experienced commercial lender who brings strong credit judgment, market credibility, and a relationship-driven approach to banking.

Pathfinder Bank is a relationship-focused community bank with local decision-making and a long-standing commitment to the Central New York market. This position plays a key role in advancing the Bank’s commercial lending strategy by supporting local businesses, entrepreneurs, and commercial real estate owners through thoughtful, well-structured financing solutions. The VP, Senior Commercial Lender is expected to maintain a visible presence in the market, generate quality loan growth aligned with the Bank’s credit culture, and provide leadership and support to other lenders and staff.

What You’ll Do

• Originate, structure, and manage commercial and CRE loan relationships in accordance with Bank policies and credit standards.
• Build, manage, and grow a portfolio of commercial loan and deposit relationships, including renewals, modifications, portfolio monitoring, and risk management.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to commercial clients by understanding their businesses and providing tailored financial solutions.
• Work closely with an experienced internal credit team to analyze financial statements, assess risk, and present credit requests to loan committees.
• Proactively identify and pursue new commercial lending opportunities through business development, networking, and community engagement.
• Structure and negotiate loan transactions that balance customer needs with prudent risk management.
• Participate in loan committee discussions and ensure compliance with lending policies and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor portfolio performance and proactively identify and address potential credit concerns.
• Mentor and support less experienced lenders and staff as needed.
• Represent Pathfinder Bank within the community as a relationship-focused, locally committed financial institution.

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, business, or a related field.
• 7–10+ years of commercial lending experience, including demonstrated experience with Commercial Real Estate (CRE).
• Proven ability to originate, structure, and manage complex commercial credit relationships.
• Demonstrated success generating $10–15 million in annual new loan growth.
• Strong understanding of financial statements, credit analysis, and risk assessment.
• Experience presenting credit requests to loan committees and working within established credit frameworks.
• Strong communication, relationship management, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to travel locally during the workday; valid driver’s license and appropriate insurance required if driving for business purposes.