Loan officer

A loan officer helps individuals and businesses obtain loans, guiding them through borrowing and evaluating their applications. They meet with applicants, assess their financial situation and creditworthiness, explain loan options, gather and review documentation, and approve or recommend loans — connecting borrowers with the financing they need while managing the lender's risk.

The role blends financial assessment with customer service and sales, and is increasingly supported by automated underwriting. Loan officers work at banks, credit unions, and lenders.

The job suits personable, detail-oriented, trustworthy people who enjoy working with people and numbers, like helping clients reach goals like buying a home — with routine evaluation increasingly automated and the relationship and complex cases remaining central.