New Certification For Business Lenders

The Institute of Certified Bankers now has a program for the certification of individuals with at least seven years of banking experience and who provide credit and other financial services to small and medium-sized businesses.

The areas of expertise for CLBB certification (standing for Certified Lender-Business Banking) are selling bank products and services, evaluating risk, structuring and documenting deals, administering portfolios and managing customer relationships.

In order to be certified, the candidate must also be proficient in accounting, finance, banking products and services, loan structuring and problem assets, and legal, regulatory and ethical issues.

Grandfathering into the program is possible until December 31, 1995 with additional requirements such as ten years banking experience and certain levels of experience and education.

Examinations are not planned until the end of the grandfathering period. After being certified, individuals must complete 45 hours of related continuing education every three years or take (or retake) the examination.

In addition to CLBB, the Institute currently provides national certification programs in four other specialized areas: Corporate Trust, Personal Trust, Compliance and Security. More than 3,400 bankers nationwide are already certified in these areas.

Copyright © 1994 Bankers' Hotline. Originally appeared in Bankers' Hotline, Vol. 5, No. 2, 9/94