More Than Decisions. It's About Making a Difference.
Every day, someone reaches out with hope. Hope they can replace the car that keeps breaking down on the way to work. Hope there's a better option than another high-interest payday loan. Hope someone will take the time to understand their situation, not just their credit score.
For Cinthia Maldonado, Director of Consumer Lending at Prime Financial Credit Union, that's what makes this career so meaningful. When people think about lending, they usually think about credit scores, debt ratios, and paperwork," Cinthia says. "Those things matter, but the numbers only tell us what happened; they don't always tell us why."
Behind every application is a person with a story.
Sometimes it's a medical emergency. Sometimes it's a job loss or divorce. Sometimes it's someone who made difficult financial decisions just to keep food on the table or a roof over their family's head. Other times, it's someone who's spent years rebuilding their credit and is finally ready for another opportunity.
"People are more than numbers," she says. "When we understand the story behind those numbers, we can make better decisions and often identify solutions that aren't obvious at first glance."
Chief Operations Officer Colleen Jakubowski has a unique way of describing it. "Lending isn't a two-dimensional concept. Honestly, it's not even three-dimensional. I like to think of it as a tesseract: a four-dimensional shape with layers you can't fully appreciate from just a single angle."
She explains that every lending decision is influenced by far more than a single snapshot in time. "A credit report tells part of the story, but not the whole story. Our Consumer Lending team is trained to think critically, ask questions, and understand the complete financial picture. We aren't looking for black-and-white, yes-or-no answers. We're looking to make the best decision that supports our members' financial wellbeing today and, in the future, and sometimes that means finding a solution a traditional bank may never have taken the time to explore."
That philosophy comes to life every day.
"Our first question is always, 'How can we help?'" Cinthia says. "Sometimes that's helping someone break the cycle of payday loans with an affordable alternative. Sometimes it's helping someone finance a dependable vehicle after they've been turned away elsewhere. Sometimes it's creating a plan that helps someone come back stronger in a few months. Even when today isn't the right time, we want people to leave feeling encouraged, not defeated."
For Cinthia and her team, those are the moments that make this work so rewarding. "When we help someone get out of a debt trap or into a reliable vehicle that allows them to keep their job, you realize you're doing much more than approving loans. You're helping someone move forward."
Who Thrives on This Team?
"There isn't one perfect path," Cinthia says. "Experience in consumer lending is certainly valuable, but it's not the only experience that translates well. We've seen people from mortgage processing, personal banking, branch leadership, and other financial services roles thrive on our team. If you understand the fundamentals of credit, enjoy helping people, and like solving problems, there's a good chance your experience applies here. What I'm really looking for is a strong communicator who's curious, enjoys learning, and genuinely wants to help people."
The role blends analytical thinking with relationship building. One moment you're reviewing credit and documentation. The next, you're helping a member understand their options, coordinating a loan closing, or celebrating an approval that helps someone take the next step toward financial stability.
"If you're looking for more than just another lending job… a place where you can challenge yourself, grow, and know your work makes a real difference in people's lived… you'll find that here," Cinthia says.
Every conversation is an opportunity to make a difference. Every member has a story waiting to be heard. If you're ready for a career where your conversations matter, and where your work can help someone take the next step forward, we'd love to hear from you. Apply for our Consumer Lending Officer position today and discover what it's like to make a difference, one conversation at a time.