Winning strategies for banks, clients

A team of Central Michigan University finance students placed first out of 11 teams at the Risk Management Association Commercial Lending Challenge on Oct. 26 at Grand Valley State University.

Students collaborated with a mentor in the banking industry to prepare for the competition by reviewing cases from the previous year and brainstorming several scenarios.

Ryan Andrews, Jake Aymen and Jack Poslajko, all seniors majoring in finance, analyzed the case and proposed a solution that was effective for both the client and the bank.

"Competing was a great way to showcase our talent and skills. It also helped me explore career options in commercial banking I hadn't previously thought about," Poslajko said.

The students said the experience allowed them to build their professional network and make connections while deepening their understanding of a different dimension of the banking industry.