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Senior Banking Counsel
Walla Walla, WA / Carlsbad, CA
Job Description
More than 130 years ago, we started with core values that never go out of style: listen, learn and help businesses and individuals reach their goals. Our financial strength and stability are key reasons Forbes names us one of the Best 100 Banks in America the past five years.
With more than $16 billion in assets and over 150 locations throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California, we understand our role in the economy and take that responsibility seriously. In addition to offering a source of capital to personal banking clients and businesses of all sizes, we place a high importance on employee volunteerism and donate millions of dollars each year to community organizations.
Attorneys within Banner Bank's Legal Department provide legal advice and support on a wide range of legal matters relevant to the operation of the bank and its affiliated entities. Each attorney is expected to be a generalist but also possess one or more areas of specific expertise. We expect our attorneys to have the courage to form and defend a point of view, balanced with the humility to accept and incorporate other perspectives. We strive for excellence, advocate for best practices, and support a continuous improvement mindset. We are a collaborative and supportive team and are seeking an attorney who is intellectually curious, highly responsive, flexible, and able to juggle multiple priorities while building and maintaining strong relationships with colleagues both within the Legal Department and across the bank.
As Senior Banking Counsel, your primary duties will involve advising internal clients on matters pertaining to Banner Bank's consumer, small business, and mortgage banking activities and operations. Our branches are located in Washington, Oregon, California and Idaho, and internal inquiries often raise both federal and state legal and regulatory questions. You will be expected to prepare and communicate related legal analysis while exercising sound judgment and common sense. In addition, you will manage a wide range of litigation matters, supervise the processing of related insurance claims, and supervise our department's processing of third-party legal information requests. Strong attention to detail and project management skills are essential.
NOTE: This position can be remote in the following states: Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Utah, Montana, Colorado, Nevada, or Arizona. Hybrid is also an option, depending on proximity to a Banner Bank office.
As Senior Banking Counsel you will have the opportunity:- Provide legal support for various internal banking teams, primarily consumer, small business, mortgage, and banking operations. May also support commercial banking and commercial real estate teams. Advise on a range of client-related agreements, disclosures and procedures, including in relation to deposit and credit relationships and consumer regulatory compliance. Respond to ad hoc internal inquiries to aid front-line staff in mitigating legal risk. Proactively identify areas of potential risk and develop strategies to mitigate risk and educate relevant staff.
- Coordinate a range of litigation matters and manage outside counsel representing Banner Bank in various jurisdictions. Work with counsel to develop litigation and settlement strategies. Review and comment on various pleadings; draft and review dispute resolution letters and settlement agreements. Oversee the discovery process. Assist with investigations. Provide direction and legal advice to internal clients to help resolve dispute involving bank customers or vendors.
- Oversee preparation of monthly litigation report for submission to the Board of Directors and its Risk Committee.
- Oversee preparation of monthly legal expense accrual reports for submission to internal Finance and Accounting team.
- Advise the bank in relation to a wide range of contracts, such as non-disclosure agreements, master service agreements, license agreements, and other vendor contracts.
- Review, develop and /or memorialize standardized procedures to support consistency and accountability and ensure regulatory compliance.
- Manage legal support staff in areas of responsibility.
- JD; Accredited law school required
- Bachelor's Degree
- State Bar Admission(s) for one or multiple states required: WA, OR, CA, ID
- 8 or more years of experience as an attorney advising banks and/or credit unions, preferably with 2 or more years of experience managing outside counsel in relation to litigation matters
- Be familiar with the laws and regulations relevant to consumer and mortgage banking, such as UDAAP, FCRA, GLBA. EFTA, ECOA, TILA, TISA, SCRA, MLA, RESPA, FHA, HMDA and SAFE Act.
- Be proficient in the areas of account control agreements, powers of attorney, deceased customer procedures, and trust and estate fundamentals.
- Have experience managing litigation or managing outside litigation counsel.
- Be intellectually curious and enjoy continuous learning. Be a proven team player, results oriented and customer-service driven. Exercise sound judgment and maintain appropriate discretion in relation to highly sensitive information. See beyond specific questions presented in order to advise on greater impacts or risks, and develop related solutions.
- Possess initiative as well as analytical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills and an ability to develop clear solutions to complex or nebulous issues. Be able to handle day to day inquiries with minimal supervision and determine when escalation of matters is appropriate.
- Possess proven writing skills with strong attention to details along with demonstrate strong oral and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to advocate effectively.
- Up to 20%, depending on location (this role is remote-/hybrid-eligible within our geographic footprint)
- Targeted starting compensation range is based on location and experience: $175,000 - $230,000
- Incentive and commission compensation may be awarded for eligible roles
- Comprehensive employee benefits, including: medical, dental, vision, LTD, STD and life
- Paid vacation time, sick time, personal days, paid volunteer time and 11 company paid holidays
- 401k (up to 4% match with immediate vesting)
- Tuition reimbursement up to $5,250 annually (minimum service requirement)
- Read more about these and additional benefits at: Employee Benefits | Banner Bank
Please take time to review before applying.
Banner Bank is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, marital status, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Banner Bank does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies and/or search firms for any job postings on this site. Resumes submitted to any Banner Bank employee by a third party agency and/or search firm without a valid written and signed search agreement, will become the sole property of Banner Bank. No fee will be paid if a candidate is hired for a position as a result of an unsolicited agency or search firm referral.
Job Summary
Start Date
As soon as possible
Employment Term and Type
Regular, Full Time
Required Education
Bachelor's Degree
Required Experience
8+ years
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