Credit remains the largest source of risk and income for most banks, yet the conditions around it keep changing. Higher interest rates, currency swings, government arrears, commodity shocks and climate exposures test borrowers that looked sound when they were approved. Regulators expect boards and executives to show active ownership of credit risk rather than delegation to the risk function.

The Executive Credit Risk & Lending Training Course is designed for those accountable at that level. It starts with strategy: risk appetite statements, target markets, concentration limits and the link between growth plans and capital. It then covers governance and committee decisions, the anatomy of a strong credit submission, rating systems, expected credit loss under IFRS 9, risk-based pricing and structuring techniques that protect lenders. The final sessions focus on portfolio monitoring, stress testing, early warning indicators, problem loan restructuring and recovery strategies.

Delivery combines senior-level discussion with real-style case files and a closing mock credit committee in which delegates defend or decline proposals. Participants leave with a refined set of questions to ask of every credit paper and a plan for strengthening credit governance at their own institution.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Formulate credit risk appetite, concentration limits and lending strategy aligned with capital and growth plans.
• Evaluate the quality of credit governance, committee processes and delegated authorities.
• Interpret internal ratings, probability of default models and IFRS 9 expected credit loss outputs.
• Assess large and complex credit proposals across corporate, SME, trade and project lending.
• Apply risk-adjusted pricing, covenant and security structures to protect the lender.
• Run portfolio stress tests and read early warning indicators to detect deterioration.
• Direct problem loan workout, restructuring and recovery strategies.
• Report credit risk effectively to the board and regulators.

The programme is aimed at executives and senior managers responsible for credit decisions and oversight, including:

• Chief credit officers and chief risk officers
• Heads of corporate, commercial and SME lending
• Executive credit committee members
• Board risk committee members and non-executive directors
• Regional and branch network managers with lending authority
• Heads of recovery, collections and special assets
• Credit risk managers moving into senior roles
• Development finance and microfinance institution executives

Participants return with:

• A framework for drafting or refreshing a credit risk appetite statement.
• A set of challenge questions for credit committee papers.
• A portfolio dashboard outline highlighting concentration and migration risks.
• A stress testing scenario template adaptable to their market.
• Guidance for early warning triggers and escalation steps.
• A personal action plan to strengthen credit governance.

The programme is designed for experienced leaders and is organised around discussion and decisions:

• Executive seminars connecting credit theory to board-level choices
• Real-style credit files for corporate, SME, trade and project facilities
• Portfolio exercises using anonymised loan book data
• Mock credit committee with roles for each participant
• Peer exchange on governance and recovery challenges

Participants who attend all sessions and take part in the credit committee simulation are issued with a CPD-accredited Certificate of Completion by Vision Reach Global Consultancy.