April Graves
Charlotte,NC
Summary
Results-driven Operational Excellence, SBA Closer and Compliance Analyst with progressive experience supporting SBA 7(a) and 504 loan programs in the financial services sector. Expertise in underwriting, loan documentation, servicing, and regulatory compliance, with a strong focus on risk management and quality assurance. Subject matter expert in SBA operations, AML, BSA, OFAC, KYC, Fair Lending, FCRA, UDAAP, Regulation E, and SCRA. Leads cross-functional initiatives to strengthen internal controls, improve processes, and ensure compliance with federal regulations and institutional policies. Experienced in portfolio management, risk mitigation, audit support, and system enhancements. Recognized for collaborative leadership, staff training, and delivering compliant, customer-focused solutions in fast-paced environments.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
SBA CLOSER II
First National Bank of P.A.
Charlotte, NC
10.2021 - Current
- Administer SBA 7(a) and 504 loan closings for commercial, small business, real estate, and construction portfolios in compliance with federal regulations and internal credit policies.
- Review, prepare, and validate complex loan documentation to ensure accuracy, completeness, and adherence to SBA guidelines.
- Serve as Subject Matter Expert (SME) on loan documentation, AML, BSA, OFAC, and KYC requirements, supporting internal partners and ensuring regulatory compliance.
- Manage a high-volume portfolio of several hundred accounts, monitoring risk exposure, currency metrics, and loan migration performance.
- Conduct quality assurance reviews, identify technical exceptions, and implement corrective action to mitigate operational and compliance risk.
- Facilitated compliance and loan documentation training for 25+ employees, improving documentation accuracy and reducing processing errors by 18%.
- Led onboarding and SBA regulatory training for 40+ lending and operations staff, increasing audit readiness and compliance consistency across departments.
- Lead and support system testing, process improvement initiatives, internal audits, and compliance reviews to strengthen internal controls.
- Partner cross-functionally with legal counsel, lenders, underwriters, SBA sales teams, credit partners, attorneys, and external vendors to ensure timely loan approvals and closings.
- KEY ACHIVEMENTS:
- 2024: Closed 37 loans while being the highest producing senior closer.
- 2025: Closed 46 loans while being the highest producing senior closer.
- 2021: Rookie of the year.
CLIENT SERVICE CONSULTANT/SBA CLOSER
Wells Fargo Bank
Charlotte, NC
03.2009 - 09.2021
- Supported bankers and clients in processing small business credit applications, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and adherence to underwriting guidelines.
- Analyzed personal and business credit bureau reports (Equifax, TransUnion, Experian) to assist in credit decisioning and risk assessment.
- Educated bankers on credit policies, underwriting standards, and loan product requirements to improve application quality and approval outcomes.
- Responded to client inquiries regarding credit products, application status, and documentation requirements, providing timely and accurate information.
- De-escalated customer concerns and resolved complex service issues while maintaining compliance with regulatory and internal policy standards.
- Partnered with cross-functional teams to ensure efficient loan processing and a seamless client experience.
- Maintained detailed documentation within loan origination and servicing systems to support audit readiness and quality assurance standards.
POLICY SERVICE ANALYST
Equitable Life Insurance
Charlotte, NC
02.2005 - 02.2009
- Reviewed and processed policy transactions including renewals, endorsements, cancellations, reinstatements, and policy modifications in accordance with company guidelines and regulatory requirements.
- Investigated and resolved policy discrepancies, billing issues, and service inquiries while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Sociology
University of North Carolina at Charlotte-Charlotte
05.2024
Skills
- UDAAP
- Regulation E
- SCRA
- Risk Management
- Process Improvement
- Operational Efficiency
- Quality Assurance
- Audit Support
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Training
- System Testing
- Implementation
- Validation
- Client Relationship Management
- Dispute Resolution
- Reporting
- Analytics
- Software: Microsoft Office, NCINO, Etran, SharePoint Salesforce, Lexus Nexus, Innovis, Laser Pro, Hogan BAM, OBAS, CSCS, FileNet, Blast, FDR, AFS Income Calculator (DSR) CBR Reporting (Equifax, Transunion, & Experian) Cornerstone Credit Work Bench Silver Vision Platform
Certification
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Graduate Certificate in Innovation, Leadership and Management
Timeline
SBA CLOSER II
First National Bank of P.A.
10.2021 - Current
CLIENT SERVICE CONSULTANT/SBA CLOSER
Wells Fargo Bank
03.2009 - 09.2021
POLICY SERVICE ANALYST
Equitable Life Insurance
02.2005 - 02.2009
Bachelor of Science - Sociology
University of North Carolina at Charlotte-Charlotte