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Become a Commercial Banking
& Credit Analyst (CBCA)®

Master the knowledge and skills required for a successful career in commercial lending
  • Learn how to underwrite better, more profitable deals
  • Simulations provide credit skills that transfer into real-world scenarios
  • 39+ courses covering everything from financial analysis to credit structure

CBCA® At a Glance

CFI’s Commercial Banking & Credit Analyst (CBCA) Certification Program will teach you the most important skills required to start or to advance your career in commercial lending roles.

Our purpose-built curriculum—which includes courses, case studies, and a library of resources such as financial models and risk assessment tools—will support your growth as a commercial banker, a credit analyst, a risk manager, or a private lender, including commercial real estate and equipment finance.

Our courses cover financial analysis, credit structuring, and a wealth of qualitative skills, such as management and industry analysis, effective business and credit writing, and sales and relationship management best practices like generating qualified leads and converting them into new business opportunities. Become a world-class commercial lending professional today!

Program Overview

57 courses

Consisting of over 2640+ lessons

290+ interactive exercises

Learn by doing with guided simulations

Expert instructors

Learn from the very best

New courses monthly

On need-to-know subject matter

Blockchain certificate

To verify your skills

500,000+ 5 star ratings

Best-in-class training, as rated by you

How the CBCA® Program Works*

Step 1: Prep Courses Optional

To prepare for the program, take our 11 optional prep courses to learn or review the fundamentals.

Careers in Commercial Banking
Level 1
1 hours
Preview Course
Introduction to Banking
Level 1
2 hours
Preview Course
Banking Products and Services
Level 1
4 hours
Preview Course
Accounting Fundamentals
Level 2
2.5 hours
Preview Course
Forms of Business Structure
Level 1
1.5 hours
Preview Course
Fundamentals of Credit
Level 1
2 hours
Preview Course
Analyzing Growth Drivers & Business Risks
Level 1
2 hours
Preview Course
Excel Fundamentals - Formulas for Finance
Level 2
3.5 hours
Preview Course
Vertical IQ Fundamentals
Level 2
1.5 hours
Preview Course
Pitch Deck Essentials for Lenders
Level 1
2 hours
Preview Course
Introduction to Agribusiness
Level 1
1.5 hours
Preview Course
See All Prep Courses

Step 2: Core Courses

Complete 16 core courses to build a strong foundation in credit analysis and loan underwriting.

5 Cs of Credit
Level 2
1.5 hours
Preview Course
Reading Business Financial Information
Level 2
3.5 hours
Preview Course
Assessing Drivers of Business Growth
Level 2
2 hours
Preview Course
Evaluating a Business Plan
Level 2
3 hours
Preview Course
Assessing Management
Level 2
2.5 hours
Preview Course
Cash Flow Cycles and Analysis
Level 3
2.5 hours
Preview Course
Financial Analysis for Credit
Level 3
7.5 hours
Preview Course
3-Statement Modeling
Level 4
6.5 hours
Preview Course
Loan Security
Level 3
2 hours
Preview Course
Loan Covenants
Level 3
3 hours
Preview Course
Credit Administration and Documentation
Level 3
1.5 hours
Preview Course
Loan Pricing
Level 4
4 hours
Preview Course
Account Monitoring and Warning Signs
Level 3
2 hours
Preview Course
Business Writing Fundamentals
Level 1
2 hours
Preview Course
Completing a Credit Application
Level 3
2 hours
Preview Course
Professional Ethics
Level 1
3 hours
Preview Course
See All Core Courses

Step 3: Elective Courses

Choose a minimum of 3 electives (out of 24) to explore more advanced topics and specialized lending concepts.

Commercial Mortgages
Level 4
5 hours
Preview Course
Lending to Complex Structures
Level 3
4.5 hours
Preview Course
Retail, Restaurant, & Franchise Lending
Level 3
4 hours
Preview Course
Equipment Finance
Level 3
3 hours
Preview Course
Syndicated Lending
Level 3
3.5 hours
Preview Course
Construction Finance Fundamentals
Level 3
2.5 hours
Preview Course
Commercial Banking - Debt Modeling
Level 4
4.5 hours
Preview Course
Real Estate Fundamentals
Level 3
3 hours
Preview Course
Asset-Based Lending & Alternative Finance
Level 4
5 hours
Preview Course
Venture Debt
Level 4
4.5 hours
Preview Course
Private Banking
Level 3
4 hours
Preview Course
Lending to Medical Professionals
Level 3
4 hours
Preview Course
Profitable Lead Generation
Level 3
4.5 hours
Preview Course
ESG for Commercial Lenders
Level 4
3.5 hours
Preview Course
Problem Loans
Level 3
3.5 hours
Preview Course
Converting Leads to Customers - Negotiation & Closing
Level 3
3 hours
Preview Course
Trade Finance
Level 3
2.5 hours
Preview Course
Operational Modeling
Level 3
8 hours
Preview Course
Corporate & Business Strategy
Level 3
7.5 hours
Preview Course
FP&A Monthly Cash Flow Forecast Model
Level 3
3 hours
Preview Course
Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Modeling
Level 4
8 hours
Preview Course
Securitized Products Part 1
Level 4
3.5 hours
Preview Course
Origination Fundamentals - Debt Capital Markets Perspective
Level 2
4 hours
Preview Course
Cash-to-Accrual Accounting
Level 2
2 hours
Preview Course
See All Elective Courses

Step 4: Practice Labs Optional

These practice labs allow you to apply your knowledge and skills by solving real-world problems.

Woodchucks Ltd. - Owner Occupied Commercial Real Estate
Level 4
5 hours
Preview Course
RockCrusher Rentals
Level 4
5 hours
Preview Course
Mountain Holdings Ltd. - Commercial Mortgage
Level 4
5 hours
Preview Course
Modeling Taxes for Different Business Structures
Level 2
1.5 hours
Preview Course
Widgets Inc. - Adjusting a Business Owner’s Net Worth
Level 2
1.5 hours
Preview Course
Boss Brewing Inc. – Connecting Capital Structure & Credit Structure
Level 3
1.5 hours
Preview Course
See All Practice Labs

Step 5: Final Exam

After completing the required courses, take the CBCA® final exam (with a minimum passing grade of 70%) to earn your program certification.

Step 6: Get CBCA® Certified

Congratulations! Upon completion of the program, you will receive a block-chain digital certificate with your new credentials. You also have the option to order a physical certificate to be mailed to your door.

CBCA® Skill Categories & Learning Objectives

Financial Analysis

See Details
  • Understand and project cash flow cycles and a borrower’s working capital funding gap

  • Build a dynamic, logically designed, well structured 3-statement financial model

  • Calculate a borrower risk rating based on historical financial results

Credit Structure & Documentation

See Details
  • Recommend appropriate lending structures based on client needs, within the context of the financial institution’s credit policies

  • Explain the administrative process behind credit documentation and work with specific examples of loan agreements and guarantees

  • Complete a formal credit application, step-by-step

Management & Business Analysis

See Details
  • Identify best practices and strategies to assess a businesses’ management team

  • Interpret and analyze a borrower’s business plan

  • Compare different forms of business structure and define the unique risks associated with lending to each

Risk Management

See Details
  • Recommend collateral security structures to mitigate the risk of loan loss for a lender

  • Define different loan covenants and recommend appropriate uses

  • Identify early warning signs with potential problem accounts

Industry Analysis

See Details
  • Explain how macroeconomic factors may affect a borrower’s ability to service debt obligations into the future

  • Recommend adjustments to credit structures based on industry-specific risks

  • Explore industry data providers for sources of benchmarking information

Taught by Industry Experts

Lisa Dorian
Lisa is Co-Founder, and previously Managing Director and Chief Risk Officer of CFI. She has extensive experience in governance, risk, and compliance, as well as business processes and strategy. A former finance executive, Lisa switched careers to focus on her passion in education and has designed, developed, and delivered training programs globally for financial institutions such as Royal Bank of Canada, Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan Chase, and Zurich Insurance, to name a few. She has also helped clients implement award-winning enterprise risk management frameworks.
Kyle Peterdy
Kyle’s background is in commercial banking, where he was responsible for originating and underwriting middle market credit transactions, as well as managing those client relationships. Kyle has worked with multiple North American-based, diversified portfolios, with industry experience including corporations in manufacturing, technology and e-commerce, hospitality, and professional services sectors. His credit experience ranges from general operating and term lending, to project-based construction financing and succession transactions.
Tim Vipond
Tim is the Chair of the Board of CFI Education with an extensive background in entrepreneurship, financial analysis and investment banking. Since 2005, Tim has been an active participant in capital markets across a wide range of industries and transactions including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and capital raising totalling more than $3 billion in value.
Scott Powell
Scott is the Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer of CFI. Over the past 30 years, he has focused on designing and delivering learning solutions for clients in the financial services sector – particularly in the areas of commercial banking, investment banking, capital markets, and asset management. Some of the organizations Scott has worked with over his career include ATB Financial, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, BCI, Credit Suisse, Coast Capital Savings, Deutsche Bank, Glenview Capital, HSBC, ING, Intact Insurance, JP Morgan, Royal Bank of Scotland, TD and many others.
Gabriel Lip
Gabe is a Subject Matter Expert at CFI and was a commercial lender at TD Bank with 15 years of experience. He recently managed a $100 million portfolio of higher-risk and non-performing credits at the restructuring and insolvency group. Gabe has worked with a broad portfolio of public and private clients, including large auto dealerships, logistics/transportation services, manufacturing, retailing, professional services, and agriculture operators. He is passionate about education and excited to join CFI to train and develop the next generation of lenders.

The CBCA®️ program has upskilled teams at:

Explore Your Career Options With The CBCA®

Commercial Loan Officer

Work with owner-operators and C-level executives on behalf of financial institutions to manage borrowing.

Risk Manager & Credit Adjudicator

Assess and approve transactions for banks and other financial institutions.

Commercial Loan Broker

Analyze and package deals more effectively to facilitate quicker turnarounds and better terms for clients.

Credit Analyst

Expand your knowledge and expertise to work in corporate or commercial banking, as well as rating agencies.

Private Lender

Work with capital providers and family offices to underwrite more effective credit transactions, including commercial real estate financing and asset-based lending.

Trust Our CFI Certified Alumni on LinkedIn

CFI CBCA student
Ihor Kukhar
Financial Modeling and...
After 6 months of studying, 19 courses, and over 900 lessons, I have finally completed Corporate Finance Institute® (CFI)’s Certification Program. I would definitely recommend it to anyone that is looking to get a deeper insight into Valuation, Modeling, and...
Read more
Michael Kuzio, MSc
World Bank Group
CBCA allowed me to further reinforce my understanding of the credit cycle both from a banking and corporate standpoint. This 60-hour program covers some of the most critical knowledge and skills required for Corporate Bankers & Credit Analysts including Credit...
Read more
Maciej Nowak, FMV...
Freelance Credit Analyst
Thank you Tim Vipond, FMVA® and Corporate Finance Institute® for Business. Your Certified Banking & Credit Analyst (CBCA)®️ Certification course is unlike any other corporate credit analysis course I have taken (working in the field since 2007). It covers a...
Read more
Marcos Vinícios F...
Certified Banking & Cr...
I just completed the certification "Certified Banking & Credit Analyst (CBCA)®️" from the Corporate Finance Institute®, and I am starting their Machine Learning in Python courses. I am very impressed with the quality of their courses, and how awesome and...
Read more
CBCA student credit analyst program
Stephen Moerane
Director Of Special Pr...
Today marks a very important milestone in my educational journey. I have been looking for a way to get into Finance but hadn't been able to identify a credential that would do the job without interrupting my work schedule. Thank...
Read more
CBCA reviews
German Rivera Per...
Corporate Finance Chief
After almost six months of courses, finally I have achieved the #FMVA ( Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst) Certificate from Corporate Finance Institute® (CFI) . I want to thank Tim Vipond, FMVA® Scott Powell and all people from Corporate Finance...
Read more

The Complete CBCA® Program is Included in your CFI Membership

Self-Study
$497 / year
Full-Immersion
$847 / year
On-demand Learning Experience
CFI's accredited certification programs
150+ courses, 5,000+ lessons and labs
300+ CPE credits
Guided case studies
Downloadable models, templates and guides
Quizzes, assignments, and certification exams
Digital blockchain verified certificate
Real-world Finance Tools
Macabacus productivity add-in, $192 value
Capital IQ access
Refinitiv Workspace access
PitchBook Access
Vertical IQ access
Personalized model review and feedback
Resume and cover letter review
Self-Study
$497 / year
Enroll Now
Full-Immersion
$847 / year
Enroll Now

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I download the Excel files and financial modeling templates?
Yes! You can download and edit the Excel models and templates included in your courses. All of the files needed in a course are available for download. Please note that while our study materials can be downloaded, the lecture videos are only available online due to copyright infringement issues.
How long do I have to complete the course?
Take as much time as you need. You will have access to all courses and all future upgrades in your subscription. You can review the video lessons as many times as you like and complete the courses at a pace that is most convenient for you.
Are CFI courses verified?
CFI is accredited by the Better Business Bureau® (BBB) to maintain training standards, and by the CPA Institutions in Canada, and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) in the US for CPE credits. You can find more information here.
Are there additional fees or costs?
None! The program tuition includes everything and there are no additional fees required to earn your digital certification.
What currency are your courses priced in?
All of our online courses and programs are priced in USD.
How do I earn my certificates?
You need to complete all the video lessons, quizzes, and final assessments in each course to earn your course certificates. The certificate will then be available on your learner dashboard and also emailed to you as soon as you have completed all of the requirements.
How are the exams conducted?
Learners are required to complete an online assessment (MCQ's, Fill-in-the-Blanks, and Excel Questions) at the end of each course. You can take the exams at your own schedule and will need to earn at least 80% to pass the course and earn your certificate of course completion. Please note that course exams can be repeated as many times as you need. Learners are also required to complete the CBCA®️ final exam to earn their certification. See here for more details on the CBCA®️ final exam
Can I email the instructor if I have questions?
While the courses are designed mainly for self-study, we are happy to provide email assistance for general or technical support inquiries. The Full Immersion bundles include a premium email support function which allows you to communicate directly with in-house experts in the area of study you are focusing on. This is one of the key features that sets the Full Immersion bundle apart and makes it a worthwhile upgrade over the more affordable self-study bundle.
Will these courses help me advance my career?
Reviews from learners who have taken CFI courses and the CBCA® certification program include numerous stories about how people have been able to advance their careers. There is a proven track record of CFI graduates making successful transitions into the careers of their dreams and this is based largely on the resources that we make available to our learners upon enrolment. Our training is designed to be fully practical and simulates the experience of being trained as a professional financial analyst. Additionally, we offer a wealth of information through our free career resources. The unique blend of all these elements is what sets us apart from other e-learning platforms when it comes to giving you all the tools you need to create a successful career in commercial lending.
More questions?
You can view more detailed information through our Help Center or simply Email Us and we'll be happy to answer any of your questions!

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Commercial Banking (CBCA)®

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