Principles and practice of bank lending

Lending and credit administration nowadays are increasingly becoming core functions in bank management. Equally, they now easily dominate regulatory and stakeholder interests in how banks are run to ensure that they remain liquid and strong going concerns at all times. Incidentally, the two banking activities are carried out within a common framework that defines a bank's risk assets portfolio strategies. The framework comprises the crux of the usually three-pronged lending function - depicted as the three pillars of credit risk management: credit analysis (pillar 1); credit policy and control - also referred to as credit administration or credit compliance (pillar 2); and loan workout, remedial and recovery (pillar 3). Credit analysis institutionalizes a process for assessing credit risk well while credit admin enforces credit control and compliance. Loan recovery follows failure of workout and remedial actions on delinquent loans. The approach to, and methodology for, dealing with issues implied in the pillars have witnessed dramatic changes over time. Yet, the goal of credit risk management remains immutable. Its spirit is geared to ensure that bank lending is efficient and that risk assets portfolio is of high quality. The facts that lending generates the largest earning, as well as riskiest, assets of a bank underscore the need to attain the goal. It is imperative, therefore, that students, practitioners and stakeholders - indeed, everyone having borrowing relationship with a bank - is availed a good textbook that elucidates the subject. This edition of "Principles and Practice of Bank Lending" - now jointly authored by Leonard Onyiriuba (sole author of the first edition) and Ochei Ikpefan - fulfills the foregoing need. It comprehensively covers curriculums on bank lending and credit administration - with tutorials on, and solutions to past questions of, the professional examinations of Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria. It will keep the readers abreast of evolving issues, possibilities and risk management demands in bank lending and credit administration overall. The readers will especially find the book useful both as a course text - for students in institutions of higher learning - and as a practical handbook that serves reference needs. It will certainly be indispensable to its target audience and a really good read.