Relationship Officer

Role Overview

You will act as the primary point of contact for individual and small-business borrowers, guiding them from initial inquiry through loan disbursement and into the repayment period. Your daily focus is on building a dependable client base while actively managing collections so the institution maintains a healthy, low-risk loan portfolio. Success in this role directly supports the branch's growth targets and strengthens long-term client trust in our lending services.

Key Responsibilities

• Prospect for new loan clients through referrals, fieldwork, and follow-up on inbound enquiries, then convert qualified leads into approved loans.
• Conduct initial client interviews and financial assessments to verify repayment capacity and loan suitability before submission for approval.
• Prepare and submit complete loan applications, ensuring all documentation is accurate, compliant, and processed within turnaround timelines.
• Monitor scheduled repayments and proactively contact clients before due dates to encourage payment and reduce default risk.
• Negotiate repayment plans with clients who are in arrears, balancing firmness with empathy to recover outstanding amounts while preserving the relationship.
• Maintain clear, updated records of client interactions, disbursements, collections, and follow-up actions in the institution's tracking systems.
• Retain existing clients through periodic check-ins, cross-selling appropriate loan products, and resolving service issues quickly.
• Provide regular progress reports on disbursement and collection performance to management, highlighting risks and recommend corrective actions.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Diploma or bachelor's degree in business administration, finance, accounting, banking, or a related field.
• At least 2 years of hands-on experience as a loan officer, collections officer, or relationship officer in a bank, microfinance institution, or similar lending environment.
• Proven ability to meet disbursement and collection targets while maintaining accurate client documentation.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the confidence to interact professionally with clients at all financial levels.
• Demonstrated customer service orientation and the ability to handle client concerns with patience and discretion.
• Solid negotiation skills for structuring repayment agreements that work for both the client and the institution.
• Basic proficiency with spreadsheets and loan management systems for tracking client data and repayment performance.