Description
Build confidence, strengthen decision making, and understand the heart of consumer credit.
Introduction to Consumer Lending gives learners a practical look at how consumer credit works from both the financial institution and borrower perspectives. Whether you are new to lending or brushing up on the essentials, this course brings together the purpose of lending, the loan types you will see every day, and the decision points that shape safe, fair, and confident lending.
Participants explore why people borrow, how repayment is evaluated, and what makes consumer credit different from business lending. The course also walks through the most common credit products, their characteristics, and how to match the right product to the right customer. Real case studies, like Bob and Amy’s tricky lending request, help anchor the material in real life situations lenders face at the branch level.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Explain why lending matters to both financial institutions and consumers.
- Identify common consumer loan products and what makes each one unique.
- Recognize appropriate and inappropriate repayment sources.
- Evaluate customer needs and choose the suitable credit product.
This course is ideal for branch staff, new lenders, customer service employees, or anyone who wants a clear understanding of consumer lending fundamentals.
This course may be taken individually or save even more money with CFTEA’s new Consumer Lending updated content.
Why It Matters
Consumer lending is more than numbers on a screen. It is people making real decisions about vacations, home repairs, education, and unexpected expenses. When you understand how lending works, you are better equipped to guide customers with confidence and steady judgment. That builds trust. And in banking, trust is everything.
Just like grabbing a rail when you lose your balance, this course gives you something solid to hold onto. You learn how to ask the right questions, match products to needs, and spot repayment sources that actually make sense. Your customers will feel that steady hand, and your institution will benefit from consistent, thoughtful decisions.
At the end of the day, strong lending is not about guessing. It is about clarity, confidence, and being the person customers turn to when the choices feel overwhelming. This course helps you become that person.
Award Application and Career Pathing
Introduction to Consumer Lending applies toward the completion of the following certificates and diplomas:
- Bank Solutions Provider Certificate
- Branch Manager Certificate
- Call Center / Customer Care Certificate
- Certified Modern Branch Professional – Level 2
- Consumer Lending Certificate (Coming 2026)
- Loan Collections Certificate
- Loan Servicing Diploma
- Personal Banker Certificate
ABA / AIB / CFT
2025.11