Credit Analyst Education Program

The challenges facing commercial lending institutions are numerous and the need for educated personnel has never been greater, particularly the need for lending professionals who understand the needs of industry and who can underwrite complex commercial credits.

The Department of Finance in LSU’s E. J. Ourso College of Business in partnership with the Louisiana Bankers Association is responding to the needs of industry with the LBA/Ourso Credit Analyst Education Program. This program provides education and training for new hires or experienced bankers who are transitioning into commercial lending and for banks that are shifting focus from commercial real estate lending to commercial and industrial lending.

The Curriculum 

The program was designed by LSU faculty and a committee of experienced commercial bankers from the Louisiana Bankers Association using curriculum provided by the American Bankers Association. Instruction focuses on financial statement analysis for presentation to a loan committee and commercial lending fundamentals including credit policy and problem loan resolution. 

The world-class faculty of LSU’s E. J. Ourso College of Business will lead the instruction with participation from experienced commercial bankers to provide both the real-world application of the curriculum and the reasoning behind the processes. Instruction in communications skills, sales strategies, critical thinking, collaboration, and other soft skills required for industry success will be added to the ABA materials in response to input from the industry.

At the successful completion of the program, attendees will receive their LSU Certificate of Completion and will be eligible to test for the ABA Certificate in Business and Commercial Lending.

Our Design Sets Us Apart 

There are several programs available for credit analyst training based on a model of exposing participants to significant amounts of information over three days in a classroom. We believe there is a better way.

Our program educates credit analysts on fundamentals and provides perspective as to why the institution needs the analysis for decision-making purposes and how the analysis will be used rather than simply training them to perform tasks.

  • Attendees will be in the classroom for two days per month for six months, with instruction focusing on the key topics critical to the underwriting and lending processes while networking with peers and participating in group projects.
  • Rather than rushing to the next topic, attendees will be given time at their home institution to read more about the subject and work with senior bank personnel as mentors who will apply the material to real-life examples of the bank’s policies and procedures.
  • There will be out-of-class assignments and quizzes to ensure success at each step, with personal advising as needed.

Program Information

January

All days at the Business Education Complex at LSU.

  • Wednesday, January 8, 2025
  • Thursday, January 9, 2025
  • Friday, January 10, 2025

February

All days at the Bankers Center at the Louisiana Bankers Association office in Baton Rouge.

  • Wednesday, February 5, 2025
  • Thursday, February 6, 2025
  • Friday, February 7, 2025

March

Section exams at your home institutions.

April

All days at the Bankers Center at the Louisiana Bankers Association office in Baton Rouge.

  • Monday, April 14, 2025
  • Tuesday, April 15, 2025
  • Wednesday, April 16, 2025

May

All days at the Business Education Complex at LSU.

  • Wednesday, May 21, 2025
  • Thursday, May 22, 2025
  • Friday, May 23, 2025

June

Final exams at your home institutions.

July

Graduation at LSU in July 2025, date TBD.

Cost: $5,350 per attendee

Deadline: Friday, December 13, 2024

Make checks payable to the LSU Foundation and include "Credit Analyst Education Program" in the memo. Mail checks to: 

LSU Department of Finance
2900 Business Education Complex
501 S. Quad Dr.
Baton Rouge, LA 70803

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE SPRING 2025 CAEP SESSION

CAEP courses will be held at the LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business and the Louisiana Bankers Association. Please refer to the "Dates" section above for the designated location of each meeting. 

LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business 
Business Education Complex
501 South Quad Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70803

Louisiana Bankers Association
5555 Bankers Avenue
Baton Rouge, LA 70808

This program provides education and training for a variety of lending professionals:

  • New hires, credit analysts, and portfolio managers in need of credit analysis skills
  • Employees who are already in commercial lending and wish to elevate their skills
  • Experienced retail lenders who are transitioning into commercial lending
  • Experienced leaders that are shifting focus from commercial real estate lending to commercial and industrial lending.

 

Graduate Testimonial

CAEP graduate Kira Yeates holds her completion certificate in this photo taken at the program's graduation ceremony. She stands beside program director Brian Andrews.

"The LSU/LBA Credit Analysis Education Program equipped me with a powerful toolkit for financial underwriting and business development! Not only has this program been invaluable by expanding my soft skills related to commercial lending, but my co-workers and customers have remarked on my increased productivity as well. Now I confidently engage in discussions about industry specifics, financial analysis, and credit policy." 

Kira Yeates
Loan Assistant, Bank of Montgomery 

 

Credit Analyst Education Program In Action 

2023-2024 CAEP graduates at a celebration at the Lod Cook Alumni Center

2023-2024 CAEP graduates with LSU and LBA representatives

Scott Farguson teaches students at round tables.

CAEP students enjoy learning from the world-class LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business faculty.

 three people work in a small group.

CAEP students work collaboratively in small groups. 

group of people around a conference table with speaker standing.

CAEP participants utilize the LBA office to learn from engaging speakers.

CAEP participants tour tiger stadium

CAEP participants get an inside look at LSU Football with a private tour of Tiger Stadium. 

 

 

Brian Andrews headshot

From the Program Manager 

I was a commercial banker for almost 20 years with experience in underwriting, commercial lending, credit policy, and problem loan resolution, giving me a real sense of what industry needs from commercial underwriters and loan officers. I have taught the Commercial Banking course at LSU for over 13 years, giving me a real sense of how to teach the material and be an educator in addition to being a trainer. Let me put this experience to work for you and your institution – I promise to return you or your employee with a deeper understanding of what commercial banks need from their underwriters and lenders, and with the soft skills needed to be more productive.

For more information, contact Brian Andrews, CAEP program manager.