Description First Financial Bank has an immediate opening for a Collection Officer 1 at the Corporate Office located in El Dorado, Arkansas. The primary responsibility of this position is to reduce problem loan logs through various collection efforts and prepare delinquent reports for management use as needed. EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Bachelor's degree (B.A.) or equivalent from four-year College or university; or one to two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Continuous educational seminars presented by FSA and SBA are required to stay abreast of current regulations and SOP changes in both agencies. COMPLEXITY: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common financial reports and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, members of the business community and attorneys. Ability to effectively present information. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Perform collection calls, letters, and visits on problem customers. Assist with asset classification report. Act as a liaison between FFB and attorney in various legal actions; may include representing the Bank in court. Maintain and monitor insurance on assigned problem loans, foreclosures, and REO properties. Makes recommendations to management on how to best liquidate collateral in order to minimize the Bank's loss and when to repossess or foreclose on collateral. Responsible for monitoring changes in both Farm Service Agency and Small Business Administration policy regarding the Guaranteed Loan Purchase program. Files Government-Guaranteed loss claims (both FSA and SBA) which involves numerous calculations, complex loan histories, and detailed expense tracking. Must be able to maintain open communication with all FFB staff at loan production offices in order to gather correct information for correlation and dissimilation to the government agencies. Other duties as assigned by the supervisor. OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Must haveexcellent communication skills, of varied levels, both orally and written. Must be very detailed oriented due to the large volume of documentation that is prepared and must be easily understood by others who are less familiar with the terminology and to be able to handle lengthy, detailed government reporting. Must have excellent interpersonal skills and be flexible in dealing with extreme differences of personalities and problems. Must have excellent organizational skills, work well under pressure and strict deadlines, as well as be able to multi-task efficiently. Must have good problem-solving techniques and be quick to respond. First Financial Bank offers an excellent benefits package which includes:
- Health/RX/Dental Plan
- Company paid Life Insurance
- Paid Vacation & Holidays
- 401(k), Profit Sharing and ESOP
First Financial Bank is an Equal Opportunity Employer.