How Internal Training Reshaped Lending Practices
Carlos Iafigliola, CEO of Amerant Bank in Coral Gables, Florida, initiated a comprehensive effort to transform the bank’s internal culture surrounding credit risk management in its lending portfolios, with measurable progress reported as of October 1, 2026. The initiative focuses on aligning employee behavior, training, and accountability with stricter underwriting standards to mitigate rising credit concerns.
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What Measures Are Being Taken to Prevent Future Oversight Gaps?
To drive change, Amerant launched mandatory credit risk workshops for all lending officers, incorporating real-case simulations and feedback loops. Senior managers now participate in monthly risk review boards where decisions are scrutinized for compliance with updated guidelines. Iafigliola noted that staff initially resisted the added oversight but gradually accepted it as data showed fewer high-risk loans slipping through controls. The bank also revised its compensation model to reward sustainable lending over short-term volume gains.
To ensure lasting change, Amerant has invested in upgraded credit analytics software that flags anomalies in real time during loan processing. The bank conducts quarterly audits of lending files, with findings reported directly to the risk committee rather than line managers. Iafigliola stressed that transparency and accountability are now non-negotiable, and any deviation from protocol triggers immediate review. These steps aim to prevent complacency as the initial urgency of the reform fades.
How has the culture change affected loan approval times? Approval timelines have slightly increased due to additional verification steps, but the bank views this as a necessary trade-off for reduced risk exposure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific lending portfolios were targeted first? The initiative began with commercial real estate and construction loans, sectors identified as having the highest vulnerability to downturns in the regional market.
Is the bank sharing its credit risk framework with other institutions? Amerant has not disclosed plans to share its internal model publicly, though Iafigliola indicated openness to industry collaboration on best practices through banking associations.
