Course Descriptions

Accounting (Recommended prerequisite: Accounting Basics)

Accounting teaches students the information needed to create financial statements, including trial balances, t-accounts, balance sheets, and various other accounts and their respective functions. Emphasis is placed on the conceptual framework involved in the classification and summarization of financial data. Valuation of assets and liabilities and recognition of revenue and expenses under the accrual basis are emphasized. Please note: Students should expect 6-8 hours of homework each week.

Audience: Students who require a fundamental knowledge of accounting

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Agricultural Lending

This course will focus on how the major agricultural trends are impacting marketing and credit decisions, and how the competitive structure is changing. The differential credit analysis techniques will be introduced through short case studies; included will be the worksheets used for small and large commercial agricultural loans, ratio benchmarks for agricultural loans, common denominators of problem loans, and risk- rating systems for both small and large agricultural loans.

Audience: Lenders who will be beginning or are in their first few years of agricultural lending, credit analysts and loan review personnel, loan documentation personnel, and any ag-credit union personnel who need an understanding of the agricultural lending function.

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Analyzing Financial Statements (Prerequisite:Accounting I)

A practical introduction to financial analysis from the viewpoint of the commercial loan officer, this course gives you the skills you need to effectively assess a borrower's ability to repay loans. After successfully completing this course, you will be able to: relate how a company's type of business, legal structure, size, and management strategies affect the way a lender conducts financial analysis; analyze income statements, balance sheets, and pro forma statements; calculate key financial ratios and use them to compare a company's performance with that of the company's industry; use advanced analytical techniques - sensitivity analysis, sustainable growth, working investment analysis, break-even analysis, and operating leverage; determine when a funds flow statement is required; construct and analyze long-run, multiple-year forecasts of income statements and balance sheets; and construct and interpret a cash budget.

Audience: Designed for commercial loan officers, credit analysts and trainees who have a basic knowledge of accounting principles and practices and a familiarity with the commercial lending process.

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Asset Liability Management I

Increased profitability correlates directly to a financial institution's management of its assets and liabilities. Users will learn how to establish financial goals, determine fundamental trade-offs between risks and returns, understand the link between GAP and net interest margin, determine conditions that affect market value of stockholders' equity, factors that make assets and liabilities price sensitive, and managing capital and liquidity risk. The following topics will be covered in this online course: Overview of Asset Liability Management; GAP and Sensitivity Analysis; Duration Analysis; Managing Capital Risk; and Managing Liquidity Risk.

Audience: All personnel involved in the funds management process. Any credit union personnel involved in lending or deposit gathering, whether or not they are involved in the asset liability management decision process. Many of these types of participants have walked away with a greater understanding of how other areas of the credit union impact product pricing and structure.

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Asset Liability Management II

Think you have a good handle on the basics of asset liability management or you're ready to take the next step' Learn the income-based and wealth-based approach to asset/liability management, GAP management of interest rate risk, how to conduct a static GAP analysis, calculating asset/liability valuation and market risk, regulation of interest rate risk using the Federal Reserve System's IRR model, and explore hedging with derivative securities. Below is a list of topics that will be covered in this online course: Asset Liability Management; GAP Management of Interest Rate Risk; Asset/Liability Valuation and Market Risk; Regulation and Interest Rate Risk Management; and Hedging with Derivative Securities.

Audience: Those individuals identified in the Asset Liability Management I course who are ready for the next step and more technical information. Experienced funds management professionals.

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Business Communications

This course takes you through a well-developed, consistently applied process approach to communication that is combined with integrated, hands-on application of current and emerging business technologies. Students learn a process for solving future communication problems, and how to use Internet and electronic media to deliver their message, resulting in a tangible communication strategy they can use throughout their careers.

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Business Math

This course is a comprehensive coverage of personal and business related math topics. Basic math skills are essential for survival in today’s business world. Learning day-to-day application of math concepts is necessary to become successful in the financial services industry. Topics to include: understand how many ratios, payments, interest, etc. are calculated; understand how gross and net pay are calculated; understand the different types of banking accounts and how business math applies to them; calculate loan payments and interest; understand the cost of credit; calculate mortgage payments, including insurance costs; calculate life insurance premiums; estimate technology costs; and understand employee recruitment expenses, including the cost of part-time vs. full-time employees.

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Commercial Lending

This course will give you the knowledge and skills to be an effective commercial lender. It covers both the technical side of lending and the important human relations skills all successful lenders must have. After successfully completing this course, you will be able to: explain why good human relations skills are critically important to the successful lending officer in many stages of the commercial lending process; identify the functions of the loan interview and credit investigation; describe how the borrower's financing needs and business type can affect the structuring of a loan; list important elements of loan documents and describe their functions; and name some warning signs of problem loans and identify ways that you can prevent problem loans

Audience: Designed for entry-level commercial lending officers, officer trainees, or personnel supporting commercial lending officers.

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Consumer Lending

In this comprehensive overview of the consumer lending business, participants learn the essentials about closed-end loans, indirect loans and related credit products, and open-end credit products. They also trace the consumer lending process from developing and taking loan applications to collection and recovery. After successfully completing this course, you will be able to: describe key laws or regulations affecting consumer lending; list characteristics, benefits, and disadvantages of direct lending, indirect lending, and open-end credit products; explain how effective marketing can increase loan outstandings and application volume; describe consumer loan information sources and the credit verification process; explain how the five C's of credit are used in credit evaluation and decision making.

Audience: Designed for entry-level consumer lenders, consumer credit personnel, and credit union employees who need to understand consumer credit.

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Customer Service Excellence

Discover why improving your service to consumers is a career investment. Learn how to provide service that meets the needs and expectations of every consumer. Course content includes: recognize the importance of customer service; understand the communication process; recognize the value of face-to-face interactions; describe how to effectively use the telephone to communicate; identify techniques for interacting with diverse customers; identify techniques for handling challenging situations; explain the role of technology in customer service; describe the importance of effectively working with internal customers.

Audience: Anyone who has direct or indirect contact with consumers.

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Economics

Macroeconomics applies economics to phenomenon that students are familiar with and interested in, this course teaches students how economic analysis can be applied to virtually anything of interest, thus helping students develop true economic intuition. This course focuses on macroeconomics, and offers a unique blend of solid theoretical, while utilizing intriguing applications that convey the prevalence of economics in everyday life.

Audience: Students who have not had a formal course in economics and who wish to increase their understanding of macroeconomics.

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Financial Accounting (Recommended prerequisite: Accounting Basics)

This course covers accounting terminology; the recording and classifying of financial transactions, including analyzing, journalizing, and positing; the preparation of the trial balance, work sheet and financial statements; a familiarization with handling of adjustments, bad debts, inventory and depreciation; and matters concerning sole proprietorship and partnership. Course objectives: describe content and purposes of balance sheet and income statement; compare the basic characteristics of the accrual basis with the cash basis of accounting; explain the full accounting cycle and prepare all required journals, entries, and adjustments; outline the necessity for and features of internal control; identify the basic assumptions, principles, and modifying conventions of accounting; describe how inflation affects information presented in conventional financial statements; define partnerships and explain their characteristics.

Audience: Appropriate for students who need a working knowledge of accounting.

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Fraud Identification Training

A seasoned state bank regulator facilitates this interactive, on-line course. The 5-week course consists of many activities, including: analyzing 21 actual fraud cases; viewing PowerPoint presentations on audit, internal controls, and cyber banking; reflecting on and discussing specific fraud issues; interacting with the other participants and the facilitator regarding these issues and the red flags associated with the fraud cases. To fully benefit from the course, you should participate on a regular basis (at least 2-3 times a week) in the threaded discussions. The amount of time necessary to complete the activities is approximately five hours per week.

Audience: A must for all personnel working in a financial institution.

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Human Relations

This course provides an examination of the evolution of human relations in the workplace, concepts of motivation, and leadership behavior. The role and function of the individual within an organizational structure are addressed. Topics include: how human relations is a key success; improvement of personal and organizational communications; identification of individual motivations; development of personal strategies for improving human relations; and how to achieve emotional control.

Audience: Aspiring and current supervisors who desire a broader knowledge of the "culture" in a workplace.

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Law and Banking: Applications

Business law and, more generally, the legal environment of business have universal applicability. A student entering virtually any field of business must have at least a passing understanding of business law in order to function in the real world. Topics covered include: Introduction to Law and Legal Reasoning; Courts and Alternative Dispute Resolution; Negotiable Instruments; Creditors' Rights and Bankruptcy; Agency Formation and Duties; Liability to Third Parties and Termination; Administrative Law; Consumer and Environmental law; Cyberlaw and E-Commerce.

Audience: Designed for entry- and officer-level credit union personnel.

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Law and Banking: Principles

Business law and, more generally, the legal environment of business have universal applicability. A student entering virtually any field of business must have at least a passing understanding of business law in order to function in the real world. Topics covered include: Introduction to Law and Legal Reasoning; Courts and Alternative Dispute Resolution; Torts; Criminal Law and Procedures; Contracts: Nature and Terminology, Agreement, Consideration and Capacity of Assent; Breach of Contract and Remedies; The Formation of Sales and Lease Contracts; Title, Risk, and Insurable Interest; Sole Proprietorships and Partnerships; Corporations: Formation and Financing, Directors, Officers, and Shareholders; Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships; Wills, Trusts, and Elder Law; Personal Property and Bailments; Real Property.

Audience: Designed for entry-level and officer-level personnel who need an overview of the legal aspects of banking.

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Management

This course presents management theory and applications in an engaging narrative style not commonly found in textbooks. The author’s unique organization and features focus on the critical theories and enhance them with detailed examples that draw the reader into the reading and clearly show their implications for managers and organizations. The text’s unique organization focuses on how managers “make things happen” in modern organizations, exploring the role and impact of management on individuals and organizations.

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Managing Human Resources

This course covers all aspects of human resource management and its impact on both individuals and organizations. The text builds on a foundation of research and theory but also provides a practical framework focusing on critical issues and successful practices. Over 500 different organizations from a variety of settings are used as examples to illustrate key points and make the connection to HR practice. Important issues and critical trends are spotlighted in each chapter and reflected in the comprehensive and chapter ending cases included in the text. Managing Human Resources’ balance of theory and practice, hands-on activities, applications, and examples helps students develop the competencies to understand and help their organizations create a sustainable competitive advantage through people.

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Marketing

The primary objective of Essentials of Services Marketing: Concepts, Strategies Cases, is to provide materials that not only introduce the student to the field of services marketing, but also acquaint the student with specific customer service issues. The business world now demands, in addition to traditional business knowledge, increasing employee competence in customer satisfaction, service quality, and customer service - skills that are essential in sustaining the existing customer base.

Audience: Students who have not had a formal course in marketing and who wish to increase their understanding of all facets of marketing.

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Money and Banking (Recommended prerequisite: Economics)

Money and Banking teaches the role of money, credit, and financial institutions in the U.S. economy. Topics include commercial banks, thrifts, credit unions, the Federal Reserve system, credit markets, and monetary theory and policy. It emphasizes the effects of structural change, globalization, financial innovation, and technology on the financial environment.

Audience: Students who have not had a formal course in money and banking and who wish to increase their understanding of the banking industry; officer trainees through mid-management level credit union personnel.

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Principles of Banking

This course explores the principles and practices of banking and credit in the United States. The course gives an excellent overview of financial services, including information on human resources, marketing, and ethics. Topics to be covered include: money and interest, negotiable instruments, mortgages, commercial lending, security and ethics, and the role of banking in today's economy.

Audience: Personnel new to banking, at any level.

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Real Estate Appraisal

This course is a thorough outline of current appraisal theory and practice, providing a practical guide to real estate appraisal for students. After successfully completing this course, you will be able to: define terms associated with real estate appraisal; discuss the formal appraisal process; understand inspections and analysis; understand cost and income approaches; estimate depreciation

Audience: Anyone working in lending or interested in gaining an understanding of the appraisal process.

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Real Estate Appraisal Advanced

This course will provide appraisal information about the Interagency Guidelines, Appraisal Rules, Uniform Standards Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), appraisal reports, appraisal valuation process, concepts of value, and the three approaches to value (cost, direct sales comparison, and income capitalization). This course will enable you to: Explain how the regulatory agencies use appraisal reports; Describe the various types of appraisal reports; Explain the appraisal valuation process; Describe the identification aspects of highest and best use analysis step of the appraisal valuation process; Describe and apply the cost approach to valuation; Describe and apply the direct sales comparison approach to valuation; Describe and apply the income capitalization approach to valuation; Define pertinent appraisal terms.

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Real Estate Finance

This course provides cutting-edge coverage of specialized mortgage lending procedures. Including sources of mortgage money, constraints on those sources, loan qualifications, and laws and regulations that guide practices.

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Real Estate Law

This course brings to life the color and law of real estate in day-to-day settings. In addition to the lively case selection, it also has a clear set of rules that will enable you to recognize, solve, and prevent legal issues.

As a result of this course, students will be able to: understand partial ownership AND co ownership of real property, and lending issues related to these topics; discuss real estate residential and commercial leases; understand mechanic's liens (strikethrough: methods of real property conveyance); discuss constitutional issues, specifically eminent domain powers; and understand environmental issues in real property, focusing on Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA).

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Residential Mortgage Lending

This course covers construction and permanent financing for residential property; real estate law; documentation; mortgage loan servicing; the secondary mortgage market; the role of government in mortgage lending; and residential real estate as an investment. The discussion of underwriting, processing, and servicing will give participants a framework for learning the mortgage lending business and refining their existing knowledge. Additionally, the coverage of laws and regulations affecting mortgage lending provide an understanding of mortgage lending's history and a glimpse into its future.

Audience: Financial service professionals who want a broad overview of mortgage lending.

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Sales Excellence

This course challenges financial institution employees to see themselves as sales professionals. It provides the tools needed to achieve the level of sales professionalism required by financial institutions today. Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: overcome hesitations about selling and benefit from a professional approach to sales; recognize how your sales efforts benefit your institution, your memberand you; adjust your selling techniques to comply with the unique challenges of financial selling; identify members' financial needs quickly and efficiently in a variety of member situations; structure your sales presentation as a dialog with the member, rather than'pitching' the product; use the techniques of listening, questioning and communicating nonverbally to improve results in sales situations; customize product presentations for specific members and their problems or needs; present products in terms if benefits as well as features in order to gain member commitment; gauge member interest in the product enabling you to ask for the sale at the right time; respond effectively to common objections to financial products and services; use proven strategies for efficiently confirming the sale; create a positive member encounter, regardless of the outcome; analyze demographics to help understand members' life-styles and their financial wants and needs; shop the competition to improve sales results; implement tele-consulting strategies to improve sales results; and use goal setting and the power of positive thinking to improve sales success.

Audience: Anyone who works at a financial institution and has member contact including tellers, member relationship advisors and loan officers.

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Supervision

Supervision blends skill-building techniques and traditional management principles to prepare students to become supervisors in today's business world. The course will emphasize that supervision is working through people to develop and empower them to become better and more efficient in their roles, and closely follows the SCANS requirements for the five workplace competencies and three-part foundation of skills and personal qualities needed for job performance.

Audience: Both practicing and aspiring supervisors who have little formal knowledge of supervision.

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online

Understanding Organizational Behavior

This course studies the scholarly foundations upon which the science of organizational behavior is built. You will learn how to transform business challenges into personal opportunities and organizational advantages. This course builds upon a powerful theme of change to clearly demonstrate how change not only affects attitudes and behaviors within an organization, but also offers new opportunities and experiences for those who can learn how to profit from its potential. This course addresses timeless organizational behavior topics, such as motivation, leadership, teamwork and communication, as well as some of the emerging issues shaping the field of organizational behavior today. Supporting themes focus on the challenges and opportunities within globalization, diversity, and ethics today. You learn not only the concepts and theories that help enhance the management of human behavior at work, but also learn how to practice these skills. You will learn how to answer today’s demands on the individual to learn, grow, and adjust as this course equips you for success within today’s changing world of work.

Audience: Any interested in learning more about organizational behavior.

Class Delivery Format: Instructor Facilitated Online