Equipping new and experienced bankers — and the professionals who support them — with the skills, strategy, and perspective to succeed in commercial and industrial (C&I) lending.
The Commercial Lending Development Program (CLDP), formerly known as the Credit Analyst Education Program, is a joint initiative of the LSU Department of Finance, LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business, and Louisiana Bankers Association. This program is designed to meet the needs of today’s diverse banking workforce, whether you are a new hire entering commercial lending, an experienced banker transitioning from retail or real estate into C&I, or a professional supporting lenders in credit, operations, or portfolio management. Participants are guided by LSU faculty and seasoned banking leaders as they explore every stage of commercial lending, from credit analysis and loan structuring to servicing, market research, and industry evaluation.
Our program goes beyond traditional credit training to provide a comprehensive foundation that strengthens individual careers and enhances institutional performance.
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. The curriculum focuses on financial statement analysis for presentation to a loan committee, as well as commercial lending fundamentals including credit policy and problem loan resolution.
Instruction is provided by the world-class faculty of the Ourso College, with additional participation from experienced commercial bankers to provide both the real-world application of the curriculum and the reasoning behind the processes. Based on industry feedback, we continually update our ABA materials to include instruction in essential soft skills crucial for professional success, such as communications, sales strategies, critical thinking, collaboration, and more.
Upon successful completion of the program, attendees will receive a Certificate of Completion from LSU and will be eligible to test for the ABA Certificate in Business and Commercial Lending.
Across the industry, credit analyst training is often 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 teaches banking professionals the fundamentals of commercial lending and how to apply them for effective decision-making. We go beyond basic task training to provide a deeper understanding of why this analysis is crucial and how it will be used by the institution.
January
All days at the Business Education Complex at LSU.
February
All days at the Bankers Center at the Louisiana Bankers Association office in Baton Rouge.
April
All days at the Bankers Center at the Louisiana Bankers Association office in Baton Rouge.
May
All days at the Business Education Complex at LSU.
June
Final exams in June 2026 at the home institutions.
July
Graduation at LSU in July 2026.
Cost: $5,350 per attendee
Deadline: Friday, December 12, 2025
Please make checks payable to the LSU Foundation and include "Commercial Lending Development Program" in the memo. Mail checks to:
LSU Department of Finance
2900 Business Education Complex
501 S. Quad Dr.
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Registration: Use the button below to register to participate.
CLDP courses are 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
Need help finding your way around the LSU campus? Visit the interactive map here.
Louisiana Bankers Association
5555 Bankers Avenue
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Q: Why did the Credit Analyst Education Program (CAEP) change its name?
A: When the program launched, it was designed mainly as credit training for new hires. Over time, participants have included not only new analysts, but also experienced bankers moving into commercial & industrial (C&I) lending, seasoned lenders refreshing their skills, and professionals in credit, operations, and portfolio management who support the lending function. The new name – Commercial Lending Development Program (CLDP) – better reflects this broader audience and expanded curriculum.
Q: What does “Commercial Lending Development Program” mean?
A: The name emphasizes that this is more than credit training. CLDP develops professionals across the full lending lifecycle—from credit analysis and loan structuring to servicing, market research, industry analysis, and portfolio management.
Q: How does this program relate to other Louisiana banking programs?
A: CLDP is designed as a practical, applied program that complements broader leadership and executive banking programs such as the Louisiana Tech School of Banking and the Graduate School of Banking at LSU. It provides the technical and applied lending knowledge that prepares participants to succeed in those advanced settings.
Q: Who should attend CLDP?
Q: What stays the same?
Q: What’s new?
"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
"The curriculum provided a comprehensive understanding of credit analysis, covering both audited and unaudited statements, which filled crucial gaps in my knowledge. The hands-on approach and collaboration with industry professionals allowed me to apply theoretical concepts in real-world scenarios. My time in the program was invaluable for my career development."
LeVar Anderson
Vice President | Senior Commercial Relationship Manager, Home Bank
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 since 2008, 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, CLDP program manager.
