Ameesh Patel
Calgary,AB
Summary
Experienced Credit Underwriter & Compliance Risk Specialist Adaptable, analytical, and collaborative professional with 24+ years of diverse experience in credit risk management, policy formulation, and team collaboration, within the financial services industry. Drives and upholds credit policy standards while maintaining compliance and underwriting protocols. Navigates and guides complex financial scenarios, from mortgage pre-approvals to risk assessments, with a capacity for adapting policies in response to a risk-aware culture and emerging industry trends. Possesses a thirst for continuous learning, managing stakeholder relationships, and delivering transformative credit risk support that advances employee and member objectives and fortifies relationships.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Credit Experience Advisor
connectFirst Credit Union
08.2020 - 11.2024
- Drives credit policy improvements, streamlines generic policies, and ensures compliance, underwriting, and approval processes
- Supported branch partners in growing their loan portfolios and business, with a focus on complex income analysis, branch visits, essential reviews and strategic problem-solving
- Updated the Continuous Collateral Mortgage (Master Line) policy, ensuring compliance and alignment with new priorities
- Collaborated with Knowledge Base Experts to simplify and improve policy accessibility
- Identified and developed terms and conditions for mobile home financing & mortgage assumption policy, in collaboration with the credit experience managers / branch partners
- Conducted detailed risk assessments for loan files, effectively managing member relations and identifying tangible deficiencies in a timely manner to meet service-level agreements
- Built and maintained the Retail Credit team page using SharePoint, starting with no prior experience and learning extensively in May 2023
- Compiled document deficiency issues into a comprehensive update and effectively communicated to branch partners
- Promoted during a merger to oversee broader responsibilities, including executing strategic initiatives and adapting policies in response to a risk-adaptive culture, as well as regulatory and market changes
Specialist, Retail Credit
connectFirst Credit Union
07.2015 - 03.2016
- Facilitated the pre-merger and pre-integration of three credit unions, drawing on extensive expertise in formulating and adapting policies within different frameworks
- Crafted a comprehensive and dynamic slideshow pre-emptive LOS, designing a presentation to articulate new processes and facilitate the understanding of merger-related transformations
- Mastered dual First Calgary & Chinook Financials' credit manuals, banking and loan systems, while integrating urban and rural credit policies, and addressing divergent priorities and perspectives
Manager, Personal Banking
First Calgary Financial
08.2007 - 07.2015
- Seized a significant opportunity in a role with limited standardized training procedures as a Manager of Personal Banking for the organization's call centre
- Mentored and coached a team of eight, fostering professional development and establishing a system for reward and recognition, developing an environment where achievements were celebrated, and team morale was elevated
- Developed a customized training plan for conducting systematic, efficient, and friendly phone loan interviews
- Designed and implemented training specific to the contact centre, enhancing skills and achieving great satisfaction among team members
- Managed a challenging team member with inconsistent performance and occasional temper issues, providing targeted coaching through call reviews and personal engagement that led to improved performance and achieved objectives
Personal Banking Representative
First Calgary Financial
02.2006 - 08.2007
- Managed client expectations in all aspects, including loans, mortgages, investments and provided exceptional customer service
- Adjudicated loan deals within assigned limits, assess risk, and develop a complete understanding of member needs
- Prioritized tasks and manage day to day work flow to get member’s needs met or exceeded.
- Conducted regular investment financial reviews with clients to identify their needs and recommend appropriate banking products.
- Enhanced branch reputation by consistently delivering excellent customer service experiences
Financial Services Manager
BMO Bank of Montreal
12.2004 - 02.2006
- Acted as mentor and guide for work colleague(s) regarding automated lending processes and adjudication
- Discussed client’s situation and needs to find the best solution to meet their objectives
- Managed clients’ expectations when conflicting deadlines needed to be met
- Utilized banking system to facilitate call reports, service requests, opportunities, attachments, profile and campaigns to help with the sales and service process
Assistant Team Lead
BMO Bank of Montreal
12.2003 - 12.2004
- Mentored a team of 12 to 14 Direct Banking Managers to reach sales, revenue, and customer satisfaction goals
- Championed implementation of 2 distinct components of new banking system to assist internal and external partners with a more seamless client experience
- Analyzed call quality to ensure Service Mentor standards are met and provide constructive feedback to staff
- Catalogued all data pertinent to tracking sales and revenue growth
- Achieved 105% in revenue and 102% in sales for fiscal 2004 team results
Direct Banking Manager
BMO Bank of Montreal
04.2000 - 12.2003
- Sales & Service Mentor concepts actively used
- Achieved 112% of revenue and 116% of sales goals
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by resolving disputes promptly, maintaining open lines of communication, and ensuring high-quality service delivery.
- Accomplished multiple tasks within established timeframes.
Education
Bachelor of Commerce -
University of Calgary
06.1997
Skills
- Credit Risk Management
- Partner Relationship Builder
- Cross-Functional Collaborator
- Loan System Expertise
- Risk Analysis & Fraud Prevention
- Regulatory Compliance
- Learner via Policy Development
- Attention-to-Detail
- Change Management
- Conflict Resolution
- Performer (Time Management)
- Adaptability & Flexibility
Training
- Assertiveness for Personal & Business Success, SAIT, 04/01/24
- Intro to SharePoint – The Modern User Experience, Udemy, 09/01/23
- Managing Data w/ Microsoft 365, LinkedIn, 08/01/23
- Intro to Credit Analysis Foundation, BFS Income – Moody’s, 10/01/22
- Business for Self Income for Retail Applications, internal training, 09/01/22
Languages
English
Professional Working
Timeline
Credit Experience Advisor
connectFirst Credit Union
08.2020 - 11.2024
Specialist, Retail Credit
connectFirst Credit Union
07.2015 - 03.2016
Manager, Personal Banking
First Calgary Financial
08.2007 - 07.2015
Personal Banking Representative
First Calgary Financial
02.2006 - 08.2007
Financial Services Manager
BMO Bank of Montreal
12.2004 - 02.2006
Assistant Team Lead
BMO Bank of Montreal
12.2003 - 12.2004
Direct Banking Manager
BMO Bank of Montreal
04.2000 - 12.2003
Bachelor of Commerce -
University of Calgary
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