EP 83: Loan Committee Basics: How IBAM Evaluates and Approves Loans, Series 3

Episode notes

00:00 Introduction 00:54 Loan Committee Fundamentals 03:00 Presentation Process 06:25 Underwriting Focus 12:17 Ensuring Success 13:31 Outcomes and Encouragement 14:32 Conclusion In this episode, Steve walks through Loan Committee Basics - a foundational process for every IBAM partner, trainer, and loan fund administrator. For many partners, loan committee is new and can feel intimidating. Steve draws on 14 years of experience as a corporate banker, where he chaired loan committees weekly, to explain why this process exists and how to run it well. Loan committee is not an inquisition. It is not punitive. It is a structured, proven way to improve decision-making and dramatically increase loan repayment. When loans are approved by individuals alone, failure rates rise. When decisions are made collectively - with accountability, dialogue, and preparation - outcomes improve. In this episode, Steve explains the purpose of loan committee, how student presentations should work, and why preparation by the master trainer is essential. He walks through what committees should be listening for, how to evaluate assumptions, and why common sense matters just as much as financial tools.

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