Leah Lopez
Temecula,CA
Summary
Over 20 years of experience in Consumer, Mortgage, and Small Business Lending. Proven expertise in managing high-performing underwriting teams, driving operational excellence, and ensuring compliance in highly regulated environments. Skilled in credit risk assessment, income analysis, regulatory oversight, and process optimization, with a track record of mitigating risk while enabling sustainable portfolio growth. Demonstrated success in leading managers and underwriters, coaching talent, and instilling disciplined lending practices across diverse loan products, including mortgages, home equity, SBA-backed small business loans, commercial real estate, and consumer credit. Experienced in building scalable processes, implementing controls, and partnering with stakeholders to deliver sound credit decisions, and strengthen organizational resilience.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Business Execution Consultant Sr AVP
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
, CA
03.2020 - Current
- Lead the development and execution of comprehensive processes, controls, and reporting frameworks to cultivate a high-performing team dedicated to compliance, risk mitigation, and sustainable change adoption.
- Collaborate with stakeholders across business lines to create scalable tools, establish best practices, and optimize operational effectiveness while ensuring compliance.
- Develop and maintain regulatory controls, department procedures, job aids, and reporting dashboards to strengthen compliance and oversight.
- Facilitated change management initiatives spanning Cards, Retail, Personal Lending, Small Business Lending, Overdraft Recovery, and Education Loans, upholding compliance and optimizing operational efficiency in a highly regulated environment.
- Prepare, empower, and assist internal and external stakeholders in adopting, validating, and implementing complex business process/system changes, product launches, migrations, and transformations.
- Facilitate implementation of new processes and system changes, ensuring compliance with deadlines, quality standards, and regulatory requirements.
- Lead enterprise-wide release initiatives, coordinating teams of up to 100 personnel to ensure seamless implementation, production validation, and post-release stability, while mitigating risk.
- Contribute to the release management strategy by coordinating activities, tracking and reporting defects, and executing validation plans to minimize operational disruption.
- Apply multiple project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, Kanban, Hybrid) to effectively lead and deliver cross-functional change initiatives.
- Coach and guide managers to sustain change adoption, build continuous improvement practices, and achieve desired performance outcomes.
Team Lead / Lending Manager /Loss Mitigation Underwriter
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Phoenix, Arizona
03.2015 - 03.2020
- Oversaw up to 15 underwriters and lending professionals, delivering coaching and performance management during peak periods.
- Mentored and developed underwriting talent, delivering coaching, performance feedback, and technical guidance to ensure accuracy and consistency across loan decisions.
- Demonstrated proficiency in underwriting complex mortgage and home equity modifications; held the highest lending authority, and executed exception reviews, audits, and training.
- Streamlined team performance through targeted coaching initiatives and feedback mechanisms.
- Proficient in complex income analysis and cash flow assessment for diverse income types, including sole proprietorships, LLCs, corporations, and wage-earning borrowers.
- Directed day-to-day operations for complex, high-risk consumer loan underwriting, title remediation, and exception reviews, while maintaining elevated lending authority and ensuring timely, compliant decisions.
- Collaborated cross-functionally with senior leadership to address escalated issues, drive alignment on credit policy, and lead strategic discussions on operational improvements.
- Oversaw business line audits, file reviews, and remediation plans to address process gaps, policy deviations, and regulatory risks.
- Led resolution efforts for complex title remediation issues, including probate complications and discrepancies with county assessor records, enabling clean title verification necessary for approving loan modifications.
- Played a key role in default title risk mitigation, identifying and resolving defects that could impact lien position, or future loan enforceability.
Senior Consumer Loan Underwriter 4 | Team Lead
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Phoenix, Arizona
12.2009 - 03.2015
- Responsible for reviewing and deciding complex loan scenarios, and exercising high levels of lending authority.
- Proficient at assessing credit risk, interpreting financial documentation, and ensuring compliance with regulatory and internal policy standards.
- Extensive experience underwriting Unsecured Consumer Loans and Lines, Mortgages including FHA, VA, FHMLC, and Proprietary Loans, Loan modifications, including HAMP and HARP, and Home Equity originations.
- Proven ability to lead underwriting operations, conduct audits to identify procedural improvements, and guide teams in implementing best practices across the lending lifecycle. Known for sound judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to mentor and develop underwriting talent in high-volume environments.
- Assessed credit risk, interpreted financial documentation, and ensured compliance with internal lending standards and external regulations.
- Skilled in reviewing appraisals to assess property values, collateral condition, and confirm appraisal compliance with guidelines
- Delivered expert judgment in non-standard credit situations, approving loans within top-tier authority limits.
- Performed comprehensive audits of loan files and business line inventory to identify underwriting exceptions, mitigate risk, and uphold compliance with internal credit policy, and industry regulations.
- Reviewed and approved a broad range of loan types, applying expert judgment to non-standard credit situations, and providing final lending decisions within high authority limits.
- Provided technical guidance and training to underwriters and lending staff on interpreting financial data, risk assessment, and documentation standards related to unique, or escalated cases.
Loan Underwriter| Small Business Lending
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Phoenix, Arizona
12.2007 - 12.2009
- Underwrote a diverse portfolio of SBA-backed loans, including Capital Loans, Equipment Financing, Commercial Real Estate Loans, Land Loans, and Bridge Loans.
- Conducted in-depth credit analysis and risk assessment of small business applicants, evaluating financial statements, cash flow, collateral, and guarantor strength, to ensure sound lending decisions.
- Conducted in depth review of Commercial Real Estate Appraisals
- Ensured compliance with SBA guidelines, internal credit policies, and regulatory requirements, mitigating risk exposure in a highly regulated lending environment.
- Partnered with business owners, relationship managers, and credit officers to structure financing solutions that met client needs while protecting the institution from undue risk.
- Recommended loan terms, conditions, and risk ratings, based on thorough due diligence and portfolio management standards.
- Collaborated with legal, compliance, and operations teams to support loan closings, documentation accuracy, and ongoing portfolio monitoring.
- Delivered high-quality credit decisions under tight deadlines while balancing business growth, regulatory compliance, and risk tolerance.
Consumer Loan Underwriter
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Phoenix, Arizona
03.2002 - 12.2007
- Underwrote a wide range of mortgage products, including Home Equity, FHA, FNMA, FHLMC, and bank-owned loans, exercising lending authority in complex and non-standard scenarios.
- Demonstrated success in performing detailed credit and risk assessments, mitigating title and default-related risk, and ensuring full regulatory and policy compliance across all loan decisions.
- Conducted comprehensive credit risk evaluations involving credit reports, borrower income, asset documentation, appraisals, title reports, and insurance documents to make accurate and compliant lending decisions.
- Supported team leadership by mentoring peers, conducting underwriting peer reviews, and guiding less experienced underwriters through complex loan assessments.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of regulatory requirements and investor guidelines to ensure consistent and compliant underwriting practices.
- Contributed to continuous improvement by assisting with the training of new hires and junior underwriters on evaluating nuanced credit risk, and adhering to investor-specific criteria.
- Proficient in credit risk analysis, income and cash flow assessments including complex income, appraisal, and title evaluations.
Mortgage Loan Processor| Customer Service
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Phoenix, Arizona
11.1999 - 03.2002
- Acted as the primary point of contact for borrowers, explaining loan decisions, documentation requirements, and next steps with clarity and professionalism.
- Reviewed borrower-submitted documentation for accuracy and completeness prior to underwriter review, ensuring compliance with lending policies, and regulatory standards.
- Collaborated with underwriters, loan officers, and customers to resolve discrepancies, collect outstanding items, and expedite loan approvals.
- Delivered a high level of customer service by guiding clients through the mortgage process, addressing inquiries, and managing expectations to support a smooth loan experience.
- Maintained detailed records, and ensured timely processing of files while meeting strict deadlines and quality standards.
Skills
- Risk management and compliance
- Credit and income analysis
- Stakeholder collaboration
- Team leadership
- Communication skills
- Operational efficiency
- Collateral evaluation
- Auditing processes
- Process development
- Reporting frameworks
- Loan underwriting
Timeline
Senior Business Execution Consultant Sr AVP
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
03.2020 - Current
Team Lead / Lending Manager /Loss Mitigation Underwriter
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
03.2015 - 03.2020
Senior Consumer Loan Underwriter 4 | Team Lead
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
12.2009 - 03.2015
Loan Underwriter| Small Business Lending
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
12.2007 - 12.2009
Consumer Loan Underwriter
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
03.2002 - 12.2007
Mortgage Loan Processor| Customer Service
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
11.1999 - 03.2002
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