We kept watching qualified borrowers get stuck on documentation…
We kept watching qualified borrowers get stuck on documentation, causing frustration for both them and our lenders. Olea helped us design an Express Loan—a streamlined, low-documentation product that got safe funding into borrowers' hands faster.
Six years later, the numbers speak for themselves: 86 loans, $1.37 million deployed, and a charge-off rate of just 0.56%. We’ve accomplished a lot with Olea’s help over the years, but this is one of the things I'm most proud of.
Kim Preston, Lending Services Director, Center for Rural Affairs
Olea has been a trusted underwriting partner since 2018…
Olea has been a trusted underwriting partner since 2018, bringing a strong understanding of our credit culture and evolving risk appetite. As we recognized the need to modernize our credit policy to better reflect where we are as an organization, we approached this effort as a collaborative process.
Olea contributed deep industry expertise and best practices from across the CDFI field, while our team at Fondo provided critical insight into our mission, portfolio, and operational realities.
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Together, we developed a comprehensive and cohesive set of tools…
Together, we developed a comprehensive and cohesive set of tools, including an updated credit policy, lending procedures manual, tiered lending grid, loan product guide, and required documentation framework. This partnership ensured the final product was both tailored to Fondo’s needs and aligned with broader industry standards.
The result is a clearer, more consistent approach that strengthens our work with the board, lending team, and borrowers—and reflects the value of true collaboration in achieving meaningful progress.
Rebeca Patino, Former Vice President, Fondo Adelante
