---
title: 'Director, Commercial Lending Operations at First Entertainment Credit Union'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/director-commercial-lending-operations-first-entertainment-credit-union-6kngzdmxyawx'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-10'
---

# Director, Commercial Lending Operations at First Entertainment Credit Union

- **Company:** First Entertainment Credit Union
- **Location:** Hollywood, CA
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-08-11
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-10
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/firstent/287fdda4-8ea1-4a56-9178-f3576129418d

## Job description

First Entertainment Credit Union is seeking a strategic, results-driven Director, Commercial Lending Operations to lead commercial lending operations, including originations, underwriting, processing, funding, portfolio management, and portfolio review. This role is responsible for profitable growth, sound credit quality, efficient operations, and continued development of CRE, C&I, and related business lending solutions.

The Director, Commercial Lending Operations develops and implements lending strategies to achieve business growth and profitability targets. The role also partners with the CLO to oversee commercial credit policies, portfolio risk management, credit administration standards, and post-closing portfolio oversight. Provide portfolio analytics, emerging risk assessments, and lending recommendations to management, committees, and governance bodies.

This is a full-time, hybrid opportunity reporting to the Chief Lending Officer and is based in Hollywood, CA. The targeted pay for California is between $130,000 and $170,000.

## Responsibilities

Execute and monitor the strategic and operational activities of the commercial lending department as well as identifying new business opportunities and market segments. Lead and manage the commercial lending team, providing mentorship and support. Oversee underwriting, structuring, approval, and administration of commercial credit relationships, ensuring sound credit decisions, appropriate risk identification, risk mitigation, loan structure, covenants, risk ratings, and compliance with policy, laws, and regulations. Serve as the senior credit expert for complex CRE transactions, including investor-owned and owner-occupied, income-producing, mixed-use, multifamily, industrial, office, and retail properties. Provide supervisory analysis and approval of credit relationships, evaluating cash flow, borrower and guarantor strength, collateral value, market conditions, DSCR, LTV, global cash flow, concentration risk, and covenant structure. Lead and enhance C&I and SBA lending capabilities, including business lines of credit, term loans, equipment financing, borrower cash flow analysis, collateral monitoring, and servicing expectations. Represent Commercial Lending with regulators, examiners, auditors, and other oversight bodies, including NCUA, DBO, and SBA, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, audits, examinations, and commercial lending requirements. Partner with Sales to ensure loan product acquisition and retention through the sales channel is properly coordinated. Utilize available resources to ensure a smooth workflow between commercial lending and business services. Proactively research and develop Commercial products, services, and innovative concepts to introduce into the Credit Union portfolio to maintain a competitive position in Commercial loan and related services. Review, approve and present credit presentations to Senior and Executive leadership completed by your team. Provide coaching, editing and feedback, where necessary. Stay updated on market trends and regulatory changes affecting commercial lending and effectively communicate these trends. Co-manage the budgets, policies, procedures, pricing, underwriting standards, funding practices, reporting, and back-office administration for CRE, C&I, SBA, loan participations, and related commercial products. Collaborate with internal functions, such as underwriting, risk management, and compliance, to streamline processes, resolve issues, and ensure timely loan closings. Perform other responsibilities as assigned.

At First Entertainment, your role, and every role, is essential to fulfilling our Mission, “We build lifelong relationships with the people of the entertainment and creative industries based on a deep understanding of how they live and work,” and living our Core Values: Members First, Ownership, Integrity, Innovation, Inclusivity, and One Team. We expect all teammates to uphold these principles in everything they do.

## Requirements

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college is highly preferred. Minimum of 10 years’ experience in commercial lending in a full-service financial institution or comparable experience in a related position. At least 5 years in a managerial or leadership role. SBA lending experience and understanding is a strong plus, including familiarity with SBA program requirements, eligibility, underwriting, documentation, guaranty, servicing, and post-closing expectations. Comprehensive knowledge of CRE and C&I underwriting, including investor and owner-occupied real estate, business lines of credit, term loans, equipment loans, construction lending, loan participations, and related collateral structures. Demonstrated ability to negotiate and structure Commercial loan proposals and pricing. Strong understanding of commercial credit analysis, including cash flow, global DSCR, tax returns, rent rolls, lease review, appraisal review, guarantor/sponsor strength, industry and market risk, risk ratings, covenants, and portfolio concentration management. Demonstrated experience managing commercial portfolios after closing, including annual reviews, covenant compliance, financial statement tracking, collateral monitoring, renewals, modifications, maturity management, criticized/classified assets, and problem loan resolution. Demonstrated ability to build, scale, and manage a commercial lending platform across underwriting, credit administration, loan operations, servicing, portfolio management, and risk management. Strong knowledge of NCUA commercial lending regulations, SBA requirements, loan review practices, allowance methodologies, commercial credit administration, and commercial credit risk management best practices. Experience presenting commercial credit matters, portfolio performance, emerging risks, examination responses, and strategic lending recommendations to executive management, boards of directors, auditors, examiners, and regulatory agencies. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills across all levels of audience. Proven ability to drive results and manage a team effectively. Proficiency in loan origination software, and Microsoft Office suite, namely excel.

## About First Entertainment Credit Union

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: First Entertainment Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative dedicated to serving the creators and workers of the entertainment industry with personalized banking, lending, and financial services.
- **Entity Type**: Private (member-owned cooperative / credit union)
- **Headquarters**: Hollywood, California, USA
- **Founded**: 1967
- **Founders**: Not publicly available (founded as a credit union for entertainment industry professionals)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Financial services / Credit union (consumer banking and lending)
- **Target customers**: B2C – individuals and families working in the entertainment industry (behind the scenes or in front of the camera), including union members, studio employees, and independent creators.
- **Mission or purpose**: To be the financial partner for the creators of entertainment and those who support them, helping members achieve financial stability and success while pursuing their dreams.

## Products & Services
- **Digital Banking Platform**: Online and mobile banking with 24/7 access, including account management, bill pay, and mobile check deposit.
- **Lending Products**: 
  - **Union Dues Loans** (as low as 8.11% APR) – designed to help members pay union dues.
  - **Home Equity Loans** (as low as 7.25% APR).
  - **Platinum Visa® Credit Card** (as low as 12.74% APR).
  - **Auto Loans, Personal Loans, and Mortgage Loans**.
- **Savings & Deposit Products**: 
  - **Term Certificates** (up to 3.85% APY).
  - **Checking & Savings Accounts**.
- **Specialty Services**: Skip-A-Pay, studio lot branches (Warner Bros., Sony, Paramount), and financial education resources.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not applicable (credit union; not publicly traded). Assets: **$2 billion** as of June 2026.
- **Key Metric**: Total Funding – Not applicable (member deposits). Membership: **~90,000 members**.
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Member-owned; no external investors. Strategic partnerships with major studios (Warner Bros., Sony, Paramount) for on-site branches.
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - Fourth consecutive year of Great Place to Work® certification (2026).
  - Named one of the top 10 Credit Unions in California by Forbes.
  - Assets grew to $2 billion from $2.1 billion reported earlier (consistent scale).
  - Continues to expand digital services and hybrid work model.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Niche focus**: Exclusive dedication to the entertainment industry gives deep understanding of members’ unique financial needs (e.g., irregular income, union dues, project-based work).
- **Studio lot branches**: Physical presence on major studio lots (Warner Bros., Sony, Paramount) provides unparalleled convenience for industry professionals.
- **Not-for-profit structure**: Member-owned cooperative, meaning profits are returned to members through lower loan rates, higher savings rates, and lower fees.
- **Employee culture**: High employee satisfaction (Great Place to Work certified), strong diversity (57% women, 75% historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups), and robust benefits.

## Strategic Focus
- **Current priorities**: 
  - Enhancing digital banking capabilities to serve a growing remote/hybrid workforce.
  - Deepening engagement with the creator economy (freelancers, independent filmmakers).
  - Expanding membership beyond traditional studio employees to include all entertainment professionals.
  - Continuing investment in employee development, wellness, and inclusive workplace culture.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Certified Great Place to Work® for four consecutive years. Emphasis on "Your Story Matters" – employees feel valued and empowered. Strong diversity council and inclusive practices.
- **Work model**: Hybrid – eligible positions work on-site 2 days a week (e.g., Hollywood, CA). Some roles may be remote-friendly (Arizona, Texas, Georgia).
- **Benefits**: 
  - Medical, Dental, Vision, FSAs, Life/AD&D, Gym Reimbursement, EAP.
  - 401(k) with employer matching and profit-sharing.
  - Minimum 4 weeks paid vacation in first year, plus sick days, holidays, and volunteer time off.
  - Tuition reimbursement up to $5,250/year.
  - Teammate referral bonus up to $5,000.
  - Studio tour and industry event access.
- **Engineering/tech culture**: Not heavily tech-focused, but information security and fraud prevention roles exist. No use of AI in hiring – all decisions made by humans.

## Sources
1. [firstent.org - Careers](https://www.firstent.org/careers/)
2. [firstent.org - Homepage](https://www.firstent.org/)
3. [firstent.org - Great Place to Work Press Release](https://www.firstent.org/blog/pressrelease/first-entertainment-credit-union-earns-great-place-to-work-certification-for-fourth-consecutive-year/)
4. [builtin.com - First Entertainment Credit Union](https://builtin.com/company/first-entertainment-credit-union)
5. [jobs.lever.co/firstent](https://jobs.lever.co/firstent)

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