Microlending Essentials Online (March 2021)

CAMEO Network is a national micro-business association made up of 400 organizations, agencies, and individuals dedicated to furthering Micro-Business development with small and micro-business financing such as loans and credit, technical assistance and business management training. Annually, CAMEO members serve about 200,000 very small businesses with training, business and credit assistance and loans. These firms – largely start-ups with less than six employees – support or create 300,000 new jobs and generate a total of $15 billion in economic activity.

CAMEO Network

A one-week training on underwriting microloans including hands-on case studies. CAMEO members email mcruz@cameonetwork.org for discount code

Lending to small and micro businesses is a challenging undertaking for a nonprofit organization and requires the development of dozens of systems and capacities, one of which is quality underwriting. Few trainings exist for staff on the fundamental skills for consistent, quality microloan underwriting, so we developed one.Also, when coaching and training staff understand underwriting basics, they can help their clients be more successful at applying for loans.CAMEO offers Microlending Essentials, a microlending underwriting class for the CDFI and business-coaching nonprofit community several times a year. Developed by Susan Brown, CAMEO’s VP of Capacity Building, this introductory training covers multiple analyses: global cash, credit history, debt-to-income and bank statement. Participants also underwrite and write credit memos for three actual microloan applications.Susan, who has worked in the microenterprise industry since its early years, developed this introductory training with input from some of the strongest lenders in the field today.What makes this training unique and valuable?What makes this training unique and valuable?The participants apply the analyses they learn to three actual microloan applications.We provide a practice underwriting criteria grid that introduces participants to the fundamental structure that every lender should use to guide decision making.We provide a credit memo form that 1) walks participants through each step of the underwriting process; 2) compares each deal’s particulars to sample underwriting criteria; and 3) provides a format for presentation to a loan committee.We introduce the elements of a loan program needed to run a quality loan program - the infrastructure, capacities and policy pieces. We explore various for roles a loan committee in the microlending approval process.We delve into the differences in ‘point of view’ between business coach and loan underwriter roles.We consider how an organization’s target market impact loan product design, underwriting criteria and loan processing.We discuss mission, scale, impact and technology – prompting participants to consider their future direction and choices.Topics<ul><li>Microlending Overview</li><li>Underwriting Criteria</li><li>Credit Memo Introduction</li><li>Application and Eligibility</li><li>Required Documents</li><li>Amortization</li><li>Credit Report</li><li>Credit History and Current Debt</li><li>Global Cash Analysis</li><li>Bank Statements</li><li>Profit and Loss Statement</li><li>Debt to Income Ratio</li><li>Projections</li><li>Collateral, Character, Character</li><li>Write three Credit Memos and </li><li>Make Loan Recommendations</li><li>Present Credit Memos </li><li>Group Discussion</li></ul> Participants apply these topics to three actual microloan applications, using supporting documents and writing up credit memos for each.Class DatesWe are offering this five-part class online: 9:30am – 12:30pm, Monday, March 22 through Friday, March 26, 2021.PricingCost: $500 for CAMEO members and $650 for nonmembers. Registration for CAMEO members is $500 each student. If you are a CAMEO member, please email mcruz@cameonetwork.org for a discount code.

To learn more about CAMEO's membership benefits, visit: https://cameonetwork.org/cameo-membership/join-cameo/

Please note that no refunds are accepted once the class begins on March 22.TestimonialsAs a business coach, this training helped me understand how the loan process works. I have more knowledge to prepare clients before they apply for a loan. – Edwin Rodriguez, MEDAI believe that you taught us a golden rule that is often missed: As a lender (and more generally as a businessperson), we are actively trying to reach a ‘yes’ without compromising our standards. -- Mohammed Al Ani, International Rescue CommitteeI started this session with minimal understanding of the underwriting process and am walking away feeling well-equipped to help my organization with our loan program. This course shed light on the importance of a structured process and has encouraged us to review how to scale our growth and impact. – Alejandra Garcia, Leadership for Urban Renewal NetworkSusan was fantastic. All the materials were digestible. She helped us understand the very differing roles of TA provider and lender. –Azusena Favela, Inclusive Action for the CitySusan was very clear that there is no one way of doing things. Now I know that organizational goals &amp; approach need constant review. Super valuable! Great training for small CDFIs that don't have in-house training. I'd give it 5 stars. Susan is an amazing instructor. She demonstrated a deep understanding of microlending, and was able to communicate her knowledge clearly. For any questions, please email Susan Brown sbrown@CAMEONetwork.org

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