Virtual Commercial Lending School Attendee Portal
Commercial Lending
April 22, 2026 (9:00 am – 4:00 pm)
Commercial banking can be intimidating because of its complexity and the risk-oriented nature of the work. This course is a clear and thorough introduction to the key concepts, terminology, and processes involved in credit and lending. It doesn’t assume much prior knowledge of the topic, so it’s ideal for those in their first year in the industry. Learners will walk away with a clear understanding of their job and how their specific role fits into the bank’s overall profitability goals.
Target Audience
New credit analysts, lenders, and underwriters, as well as bankers who don’t do credit analysis but need a working knowledge of the process. This may include statement spreaders, loan processors and closers, treasury management associates, administrative support for credit or lending officers, branch managers, and interns.
Course Description – Commercial Lending School
We will have breaks throughout the day and break for lunch at 12:00 noon.
The Business of Banking
- Why customer relationships matter
- Identifying and managing risk
- Net interest income vs. fee income
Why Businesses Borrow Money
- Working capital financing
- Real estate and capital expenditures
- Start-ups, buyouts, bridge loans, and losses
The Art of Underwriting – Part I
- Industry considerations
- Life cycle stage of your borrower
- Analyzing quality of management
The Art of Underwriting – Part II
- Four levels of quantitative analysis
- Balance sheet: liquidity and leverage
- Income statement: margins and coverage
Loan Structuring – Part I
- Types of loan facilities
- How loan pricing really works
- Tenor and amortization
Loan Structuring – Part II
- Analyzing your collateral
- What loan covenants do for you
- The value of guarantees
The Credit Approval Process
- Courtship and the “life of a loan”
- Selling the deal twice – bank and customer
- Loan documentation
Loan and Portfolio Monitoring
- Understanding “Expected loss”
- Loan grading – regulatory definitions
- Asset performance and loan loss provisions
The Complex Lending Machine
- Internal relationships
- Introduction to twelve key banking groups
- Critical partnership: Credit and Lending
Test Drive Your Job
- A day in the life of a credit analyst
- Prerequisite traits for success
- Career advice and how to love your job
Session Materials
The password to view the session materials is Lending26.
Please print a hard copy of the Reference Guide and have it handy at the start of the class.
Commercial Lending School Reference Guide
Commercial Lending School Course Summary
Roster
Speaker Information
Andy Keusal is the Founder and President of Keusal Learning. Andy is passionate about using his teaching gift to help others reach their God-given potential. After earning his B.A. in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame, he spent eighteen years in commercial banking, during which he interviewed, hired, and trained hundreds of new bankers. He also helped build and run one of the nation’s premier credit training programs at a large Midwest regional bank. He left his corporate career in 2015 to found Keusal Learning, where he now helps people master the basics of banking. Many of his trainees have moved on to prosperous careers in banking, private equity, and even business ownership.
As a husband and father of ten children, Andy devotes much of his time and energy to helping his wife Andrea educate their nine children still living at home. Whether at home or in the workplace, Andy has a knack for making complex things simple, using humor and a comfortable presentation style to communicate with his audience. He is the author of the popular book, “Breaking into Banking: Cracking the Code on Launching a Successful Career in Commercial Banking,” and the creator and facilitator of the video courses by the same name.
Zoom Info
Click here to join the 2026 Virtual Commercial Lending School.
Meeting ID: 858 6700 7529
Passcode: 133168