Career Path

Advance Your Career in Commercial Lending

Pursue a career in Commercial Lending with expert-led courses from CFI.
  • Build core skills in credit analysis, financial statement assessment, and loan structuring.
  • Develop in-demand expertise in borrower evaluation, credit risk assessment, and deal execution.
  • Stand out to employers with CFI’s case studies, practical credit modeling exercises, and interview prep resources.
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Why Choose Commercial Lending

Commercial Lending offers a rewarding and relationship-driven career path, blending financial analysis, business strategy, and credit decision-making. Professionals in this field support businesses by evaluating borrower needs, structuring loans, and managing ongoing credit exposure. CFI’s Commercial Lending programs help you build the skills needed to succeed in roles across commercial banking. Read more about Commercial Lending careers here.

Strong Industry Demand

Growing lending portfolios create strong demand for professionals skilled in credit analysis and loan structuring.
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Attractive Earning Potential

Earn competitive pay with performance-based bonuses that increase with experience and seniority.

Business Impact and Client Relationships

Commercial bankers help businesses grow by structuring financing solutions and building lasting client relationships.

Pathway to Leadership

Credit Analyst → Relationship Manager → Senior Relationship Manager → Director of Commercial Banking or Chief Credit Office

Recommended Learning for Commercial Lending Careers

A career in Commercial Lending requires strong skills in credit analysis, financial statement interpretation, and relationship management. Start with the CBCA to master lending fundamentals, then expand your expertise with advanced programs in Risk Management or Accounting for Financial Analysts.

Commercial Banking & Credit Analyst Certification

4.9 (24,010 Ratings)
A strong understanding of credit is essential for anyone pursuing a career in commercial lending. The Commercial Banking & Credit Analyst (CBCA®) certification builds the core skills needed to assess borrower creditworthiness, analyze financial statements, structure loans and evaluate lending decisions.
Skills You’ll Gain:
Financial Analysis, Credit Structure, Documentation, Business Analysis, Credit Risk, Industry Analysis, and more
  • CBCA program: 58 total courses, 19 required for exam eligibility
  • Get full CBCA program, community, & more with a CFI membership
  • Self-Paced & 100% Online

Learn Advanced Commercial Lending Skills with additional Specializations

Specialization

AI For Finance

Specialization

Data Analysis in Excel

Specialization

Business Intelligence Analyst

AI For Finance Specialization

4.8 (180 Ratings)
AI helps private equity firms move faster, from finding promising targets to creating value in portfolio companies. The AI for Finance Specialization shows you how to combine advanced analysis with AI-driven insights to improve your modeling skills, track performance, and uncover efficiencies. With tools like ChatGPT and custom GPTs, you’ll make smarter, data-backed decisions that drive growth and deliver stronger returns.
Skills You’ll Gain:
Chat GPT, Gemini, LLMs, Prompt Engineering
  • AI for Finance Specialization
  • 9 total courses (8 required)
  • Self-Paced & 100% Online

Data Analysis in Excel Specialization

4.9 (24,010 Ratings)
FP&A roles typically spend a large proportion of their time in Microsoft Excel, building traditional formula based models. The Data Analysis in Excel Specialization offers an opportunity to stand out from other FP&A colleagues, with more advanced skills in data analysis, data management and basic automation. With these skills come opportunities to improve speed, quality and reliability of analysis to stakeholders.
Skills You’ll Gain:
Advanced Data Techniques, Array Formulas, Power Pivot, Power Query, Basic Automation, Data Modeling
  • DAE program: 8 total, 5 required to earn DAE certificate
  • Get this full program, community, & more with a CFI membership
  • Self-paced & 100% online

Business Intelligence Analyst Specialization

4.8 (2,658 Ratings)
Develop real-world analytics skills with a business intelligence analyst specialization, including creating and dashboarding insights for stakeholders, manipulating and connecting related data to supercharge your work, and using industry standard tools like Power BI, Tableau, and SQL.
Skills You’ll Gain:
Data Transformation & Automation, Data Analysis, Data Visualization, Data Modeling and more
  • Get full BIA program, community, & more with a CFI membership
  • BIA program: 19 total courses, 14 required to earn BIA certificate
  • Self-paced & 100% online

Gain an advantage with our Commercial Lending Career Tools

Explore Commercial Lending and and how it fits into the world of finance.
  • Podcast interviews with Commercial Lending professionals
  • Career insights on Commercial Lending and the world of finance
  • Office hours with experts for Commercial Lending career questions
Test your skills and get interview ready with practical resources created by Commercial Lending experts.
  • Top Commercial Lending Interview Questions
  • Skills Assessments for Commercial Lending Topics
  • Interview Tips for Commercial Lending
Create and enhance your resume with AI assisted tools before finding a job in Commercial Lending
  • Resume Templates for Commercial Lending
  • AI Powered Resume Builder
  • Commercial Lending Job Postings (Coming Soon)

Immerse Yourself in the World of Commercial Lending

Explore Commercial Lending specific resources to hear from professionals, learn more about the industry, and download useful Excel templates.
Articles
Podcasts
Templates & Exercises
Credit
Credit
What is Credit? Credit is created when one party (a creditor) provides resources…
Written by Kyle Peterdy
Loan Agreement
Loan Agreement
What is a Loan Agreement? A loan agreement is a formal contract outlining…
Written by Kyle Peterdy
Expected Loss (EL): Overview, How to Calculate, Importance in Credit Risk Management
Expected Loss (EL): Overview, How to Calculate, Importance in Credit Risk Management
The Role of Expected Loss in Credit Risk Analysis Expected Loss (EL) is…
Written by Kelly Bailey
Credit Policy
Credit Policy
What is a Credit Policy? An organization that advances credit and lends to…
Written by Gabriel Lip
Credit Risk Analysis
Credit Risk Analysis
What is Credit Risk Analysis? Credit risk analysis extends beyond credit analysis and…
Written by Gabriel Lip
Credit Risk Analyst
Credit Risk Analyst
Working in Credit Risk Today's lending decisions for retail clients are often made…
Written by Ryan Spendelow
Credit
Written by Kyle Peterdy
Credit
What is Credit? Credit is created when one party (a creditor) provides resources…
Read more
Loan Agreement
Written by Kyle Peterdy
Loan Agreement
What is a Loan Agreement? A loan agreement is a formal contract outlining…
Read more
Expected Loss (EL): Overview, How to Calculate, Importance in Credit Risk Management
Written by Kelly Bailey
Expected Loss (EL): Overview, How to Calculate, Importance in Credit Risk Management
The Role of Expected Loss in Credit Risk Analysis Expected Loss (EL) is…
Read more
Credit Policy
Written by Gabriel Lip
Credit Policy
What is a Credit Policy? An organization that advances credit and lends to…
Read more
Credit Risk Analysis
Written by Gabriel Lip
Credit Risk Analysis
What is Credit Risk Analysis? Credit risk analysis extends beyond credit analysis and…
Read more
Credit Risk Analyst
Written by Ryan Spendelow
Credit Risk Analyst
Working in Credit Risk Today's lending decisions for retail clients are often made…
Read more
Corporate Finance Explained | The Role of Credit Ratings: Impact, Strategy, and Real World Lessons
Ever wonder how giants like Apple and Toyota fund their massive operations? The…
Written by CFI Team
Written by CFI Team
Corporate Finance Explained | The Role of Credit Ratings: Impact, Strategy, and Real World Lessons
Ever wonder how giants like Apple and Toyota fund their massive operations? The…
Read more
Operating Cash Flow Ratio Template
Operating Cash Flow Ratio Template
Operating Cash Flow Ratio Template This Operating Cash Flow Ratio template will show…
Written by CFI Team
Interest Coverage Ratio Template
Interest Coverage Ratio Template
Interest Coverage Ratio Template This Interest Coverage Ratio template will guide you through…
Written by CFI Team
Debt Capacity Model Template
Debt Capacity Model Template
Debt Capacity Model Template This Debt Capacity Model Template will help you assess…
Written by CFI Team
Leverage Ratios Template
Leverage Ratios Template
Leverage Ratios Template This leverage ratios template helps you calculate five commonly used…
Written by CFI Team
Operating Cash Flow Ratio Template
Written by CFI Team
Operating Cash Flow Ratio Template
Operating Cash Flow Ratio Template This Operating Cash Flow Ratio template will show…
Read more
Interest Coverage Ratio Template
Written by CFI Team
Interest Coverage Ratio Template
Interest Coverage Ratio Template This Interest Coverage Ratio template will guide you through…
Read more
Debt Capacity Model Template
Written by CFI Team
Debt Capacity Model Template
Debt Capacity Model Template This Debt Capacity Model Template will help you assess…
Read more
Leverage Ratios Template
Written by CFI Team
Leverage Ratios Template
Leverage Ratios Template This leverage ratios template helps you calculate five commonly used…
Read more

Commercial Lending Graduates Work in Leading Organizations

CFI’s Commercial Lending graduates work for top firms worldwide—across industries such as technology, financial services, automotive, and consumer goods.
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Trusted by 2.8 Million+ professionals worldwide.

Over 75% of CFI learners report improved productivity or competency within weeks.

"Probably the best online course I’ve ever attended"

Probably the best online course I’ve ever attended. The value for money is immense. I was a bit skeptical at the beginning because I already own an MBA, I would have liked just to refresh some concepts. The program is very hands-on, it spans so many interesting topics that it makes me wonder to go deep studying them. The teachers are very clear. In answering, the customer service is quicker than amazon prime with its deliveries.

"Strongly recommend to everyone who…"

Strongly recommend to everyone who wants to receive new careers opportunities and enhance their knowledge in finance. CFI FMVA is perfect opportunity for everyone to obtain neccessary and strong background in financial modeling and valuation of companies. CFI helped me a lot with providing a financial aid and now my profile as a finance specialist is much more attractive and I receive additional confidence in my valuation skills. Thanks to everybody in the CFI team for creating such brilliant courses.
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"Excellent Course!!!"

This course was very detailed and structured. I would definitely recommend this Certification for any budding Financial Analyst.

"Perfect for getting ahead at work!"

I love how detailed the videos are and the step by step instructions.
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"Best Finance Institute"

This is a really practical guide to know everything about Corporate Finance. It is deep and solid enough to know how to use advanced concepts and get the best out of your work.
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"Too good to be true!"

I have had the honor of completing the FMVA course and I am very pleased with the amount of knowledge that I have gained. The tutorship is excellent and is enhanced by detailed explanations all done in a step by step manner and video presentation to boot! There are many assignments along the way to test your ongoing development and there is no hustle to do anything. You can take your time, repeat your lessons as much as you like. This is one of the most comprehensive of courses, yet enjoyable and packed with information that otherwise may take you years to learn. I will gladly recommend this course to anyone.

Ready to Launch Your Commercial Lending Career?

Get certified by CFI and join millions of successful finance professionals.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you haven’t found your answer from our FAQ, please send us a message.
What is Capital Markets and what do capital markets professionals do?
Capital Markets professionals help companies and investors buy, sell, and issue financial securities. They work across equity, debt, and derivative markets to raise capital, manage risk, and ensure liquidity in the financial system.
Is a career in Commercial Lending right for me?
If you enjoy analyzing businesses, working with clients, and assessing financial performance, Commercial Lending could be a great fit. It combines financial analysis with relationship management and strategic thinking
Do I need a finance degree to work in Commercial Lending?
Not necessarily. A finance or accounting background helps, but what’s most important is your ability to analyze financial statements, assess creditworthiness, and communicate findings clearly; skills CFI’s training helps you build.
Will these certifications help me get a job in Commercial Lending?
Yes. CFI’s certifications are recognized by banks, credit unions, and financial institutions worldwide. They demonstrate your practical lending skills and understanding of risk, credit analysis, and loan struct
Can this help me advance in my current finance role?
Definitely. Learning how to assess borrowers, structure deals, and evaluate credit risk can help you move into lending, relationship management, or credit officer roles—and strengthen your decision-making in other finance positions.
What makes CFI’s Commercial Lending career path different from other providers?
CFI’s career path blends real-world lending case studies with financial analysis and credit evaluation techniques. You’ll learn how to assess business performance, structure loans, and manage relationships through hands-on, practical examples.
Is this training NASBA accredited or CPE eligible?
Yes. CFI is NASBA-accredited and offers CPD/CPE credits, helping finance professionals maintain certifications and meet continuing education requirements.
Do I get a certificate? Will it show on LinkedIn?
Yes. Upon completion, you’ll receive a digital certificate that can be added to LinkedIn to showcase your Commercial Lending expertise and verified skills.
If you haven’t found your answer from our FAQ, please send us a message.
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