Senior Banking Counsel

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. 

Education & Certifications

• JD; Accredited law school required
• Bachelor's Degree
• State Bar Admission(s) for one or multiple states required: WA, OR, CA, ID

Experience

• 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

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• 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 a