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The Agency Financing Group Head is responsible for building, leading, and scaling Fifth Third's national multifamily agency lending platform.This leader drives the end-to-end development of the agency ecosystem, including origination, underwriting, capital markets, servicing, and all supporting infrastructure, while ensuring operational excellence and sustainable financial performance. The role sets the strategic vision and operating model for a scalable, multi-license platform, including governance, organizational design, and audit-ready financial transparency. The incumbent leads national growth through originations strategy, external partnerships, industry representation, and the development of specialized teams across each agency product line. Additionally, the role oversees capital markets execution, bridge-to-agency lending, and cross-bank integration to deliver seamless, high-quality client solutions at scale.
ABOUT THE ROLE:
The Agency Financing Group Head will serve as the senior leader responsible for building, leading, and expanding Fifth Third's multifamily agency lending platform, which currently includes Fannie Mae DUS. This leader will also provide strategic direction for potential future expansions, such as Freddie Mac Optigo and FHA/HUD MAP/HAP capabilities.
In this role, the incumbent will drive the comprehensive build-out of the agency lending ecosystem including production, underwriting, capital markets, servicing, and all supporting functional areas. As the platform grows, the Head of Agency Financing will be accountable for delivering sustainable business growth, operational excellence, and strong financial performance.
Please see below for specific responsibilities and requirements for this role.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES:
The responsibilities for this role are below; you may support projects of varying complexity based on skill and organizational priorities.
Strategic Leadership & Platform Build-Out
Lead the integration of the newly acquired Fannie Mae DUS platform while designing a scalable infrastructure for future Freddie Mac and FHA lines of business.
Develop the business operating model, including governance, reporting structure, financial transparency, and audit readiness.
Evaluate and determine organizational redesign, enhancement, and expansion needed to establish a national, multi-license agency lending platform.
Establish production, underwriting, closing, capital markets, asset management, and servicing functions sized appropriately for a national footprint.
Business Development & Growth
Lead the national originations strategy across Fannie and any future-acquired bridge-to-agency businesses.
Build and maintain relationships with Fannie Mae and potential future partners, such as Freddie Mac and HUD.
Pursue external production partnerships with institutional firms lacking agency licenses to supplement internal production and improve ROE.
Represent Fifth Third at key industry events to establish credibility as a growing national agency platform.
Operational Oversight & Specialized Team Development
Build dedicated teams for each agency product line to ensure expertise and execution excellence.
Oversee all phases of the loan lifecycle: origination, underwriting, credit approval, closing, delivery, servicing, and asset management.
Recruit and develop high-performing teams across all agency product lines.
Foster a culture emphasizing accountability, technical excellence, client focus, and continuous improvement.
Capital Markets & Rate Lock Management
Build a specialized capital markets group responsible for rate lock strategy, best execution, and revenue optimization.
Manage external capital markets relationships with major Wall Street counterparties for Fannie rate risk management.
Oversee Freddie Mac rate lock strategy coordinated directly with Freddie's internal capital markets desk.
Bridge-to-Agency Lending Platform
Develop and manage a balance sheet bridge lending business designed to feed long-term agency production.
Establish underwriting, credit, monitoring, and risk frameworks tailored to bridge lending's distinct risk profile.
Cross-Bank Integration & Partnerships
Align closely with CRE Relationship Managers to ensure seamless referral flow and integrated solutions.
Partner with the Affordable Housing, Construction, and Middle Market verticals to strengthen end-to-end client coverage and maximize agency takeouts.
Develop third-party partnerships to generate incremental deal flow without adding human capital expense.
Supporting Functions (Finance, Legal, Technology, Data)
Build dedicated, specialized infrastructure across supporting functions, including:
Finance (loan accounting, pricing, P&L, budgeting, forecasting)
Legal (transactional, regulatory, agency-required documentation)
Technology & Data (LOS enhancements, pipeline reporting, data integrations, regulatory reporting)
Oversee integration of these teams into Fifth Third's enterprise environment, ensuring compliance and operational stability.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Undergraduate degree required; graduate degree preferred.
15+ years of experience in banking, multifamily finance, or related field.
10+ years of experience in multifamily agency lending, including DUS, Optigo, or FHA programs.
Proven experience leading production and underwriting teams in a national or multi-market platform.
Strong credit, capital markets, and underwriting expertise across Fannie, Freddie, and FHA products.
Experience with bridge lending preferred.
Demonstrated ability to attract, retain, and develop high-performing talent.
Strong executive presence and relationship-building skills with agencies, investors, and internal stakeholders.
REQUIRED SKILLS:
Qualified candidates will bring emerging professional proficiency, generally acquired through 15 years of relevant work experience:
Expertise in Fannie Mae DUS program guidelines and agency lending processes.
Strong credit analysis and underwriting capabilities for multifamily transactions.
Ability to manage complex integration initiatives and large loan portfolios.
Leadership and team development skills.
Please refer to the "Skills for Success" section to learn how to stand out as an applicant.
SKILLS FOR SUCCESS:
Successful candidates will demonstrate a higher degree of proficiency typically from 15 years of practical experience or advanced academic exposure across the following areas:
Strategic thinker with ability to influence corporate outcomes and lead through significant organizational build-out.
Deep understanding of agency lending economics, capital markets execution, and risk frameworks.
Ability to balance growth and P&L performance with disciplined credit and operational controls.
Skilled at building scalable infrastructure, technology, and processes to support national expansion.
Proven ability to manage competing priorities in a complex, fast-paced environment.
DOING THE RIGHT THING: Our employees take pride in doing the right thing for customers and colleagues as well as being accountable for risk by openly exchanging ideas and opinions, elevating concerns, and following policies and procedures that protect all our valuable assets -including you?.
LI-JO1
Agency Financing Group Head
Total Base Pay Range 155,100.00 - 333,500.00 USD Annual
At Fifth Third, we understand the importance of recognizing our employees for the role they play in improving the lives of our customers, communities and each other. Our Total Rewards include comprehensive benefits and differentiated compensation offerings to give each employee the opportunity to be their best every day.
The base salary for this position is reflective of the range of salary levels for all roles within this pay grade across the U.S. Individual salaries within this range will vary based on factors such as role, relevant skillset, relevant experience, education and geographic location. In addition to the base salary, this role is eligible to participate in an incentive compensation plan, with any such payment based upon company, line of business and/or individual performance.
Our extensive benefits programs are designed to support the individual needs of our employees and their families, encompassing physical, financial, emotional and social well-being. You can learn more about those programs on our 53.com Careers page at: https://www.53.com/content/fifth-third/en/careers/benefits.html or by consulting with your talent acquisition partner.
LOCATION -- Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Attention search firms and staffing agencies: do not submit unsolicited resumes for this posting. Fifth Third does not accept resumes from any agency that does not have an active agreement with Fifth Third. Any unsolicited resumes - no matter how they are submitted - will be considered the property of Fifth Third and Fifth Third will not be responsible for any associated fee.
Fifth Third Bank, National Association is proud to have an engaged and inclusive culture and to promote and ensure equal employment opportunity in all employment decisions regardless of race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, veteran status or any other legally protected status.
