Ninel Struzska

Ninel oversees the credit team and the credit underwriting process and oversees the development and enforcement of underwriting standards and policies. She acts as SBA eligibility and credit liaison with the sales team to produce safe and sound loan growth while managing portfolio mix and portfolio quality.

Ninel is a senior credit risk management professional with 25+ years of commercial lending experience, primarily in credit department management, credit risk management, and credit administration. She has 12+ years of SBA experience mitigating risk for SBA 7a loans and providing guidance and recommendations for SBA eligible credit structures. Ninel’s expertise includes team performance optimization through system and procedure implementation, regulatory exam management, audit coordination, and talent development. She possesses a deep understanding and knowledge of commercial lending and SBA 7(a) lending. Her previous positions include VP, SBA Credit Officer at Citizens’ Bank, where she was responsible for SBA credit risk, and SVP, Senior Underwriting Manager at Byline Bank, where she supported sustainable growth of SBA loan origination by cultivating the SBA underwriting team and developing policies and procedures.