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The Highly Anticipated 2023 NAFCU Lending Conference

December 18, 2024/in Press

Finally reaching Q4 has many perks. One of those perks is being able to close out the year with tools to help us successfully navigate 2024 and beyond. That toolbox is being provided by the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions (NAFCU). Credit union leaders and employees across the country have marked their calendars for […]

Oaktree and AVANA Companies form a $250MM Joint Venture

December 18, 2024/in Press

AVANA-Oaktree Private Credit Partnership aims to empower small businesses and drive local economic growth AVANA Companies (“AVANA”) and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management L.P. (“Oaktree”) announce the formation of a new $250MM AVANA-Oaktree Private Credit Partnership (“AOPCP”) for its direct private commercial real estate lending strategy. Through the JV, AVANA will use the capital to provide private […]

The Highly Anticipated 2023 NAFCU Lending Conference

December 18, 2024/in Press

Oaktree and AVANA Companies form a $250MM Joint Venture

December 18, 2024/in Press

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The Highly Anticipated 2023 NAFCU Lending Conference

December 18, 2024/in Press

Finally reaching Q4 has many perks. One of those perks is being able to close out the year with tools to help us successfully navigate 2024 and beyond.

That toolbox is being provided by the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions (NAFCU).

Credit union leaders and employees across the country have marked their calendars for the NAFCU’s highly anticipated annual conference taking place November 7-9 at The Westin New Orleans in Louisiana.

Titled the NAFCU Lending Conference (and already sold out), this year’s theme promises to equip attendees with expert insight and valuable resources prepared by industry leaders and top-tier vendors.

Overall, the goal of this esteemed conference is to help strengthen credit unions’ lending positioning for the years ahead.

The three-day conference is finely curated to create an engaging, compelling and inspiring experience. The agenda features timely topics, expert advice, networking opportunities and a keynote speech by economist Elliot Eisenberg, Ph.D.

Here are some highlights of this must-attend event.

Embracing the Future of Lending

AVANA CUSO’s team of lending experts is honored to attend the NAFCU Lending Conference. As the nation’s most seasoned credit union service organization (CUSO), we understand how essential it is to stay abreast of the future of lending.

“We attend inspiring events like this because we love hearing directly from credit union leaders,” says Shivan Perera, AVANA CUSO Senior Vice President. “Attending this conference allows us to tap into credit unions on a different level. In turn, we leave armed with firsthand knowledge about the lending solutions credit unions need right now. Then, we get to work crafting those solutions to better support them and their communities.”

From cybersecurity to underwriting to commercial loans (and everything in between), the NAFCU Lending Conference will arm all who attend with strategy-enhancing tactics for a rewarding future.

Powerful Panel Discussions

The NAFCU Lending Conference will feature topics on the latest trends in lending and business development to help propel CUs forward in today’s competitive landscape. Included in that are a number of panels that will stimulate essential discussions on some of the most pressing lending topics for 2023/24, including:

Fueling Growth: Insights into Optimizing Your Lending Portfolio
Adapting for Success: Lending Culture and Connectivity
Navigating Challenges in the Current Mortgage Market

Sessions Addressing Timely Topics

The past year has been marked by many economic and technological shifts that directly impact credit unions. The NAFCU Lending Conference will address it all. More importantly, the event will leverage these hot-button issues in a way that can positively impact credit unions, their members and their broader community.

Some of those scheduled sessions include:

The lending regulatory landscape
Leveraging AI in lending
Emerging trends in lending fraud and cybersecurity risks
Understanding collections and delinquencies in today’s economy

Forging Lasting Connections

Last but certainly not least, the conference’s agenda features various opportunities to meet fellow credit union leaders and team members. This includes networking breakfasts and luncheons, a welcome reception, an icebreaker “speed” networking event and a happy hour.

The networking possibilities are invaluable, whether you are making small talk or tapping into each other’s expertise.

While you’re mingling, please be on the lookout for AVANA CUSO. We want to hear from you and discuss all the ways we can help your credit union meet its goals for Q4, 2024 and beyond.

About AVANA CUSO

Established in 1998 and headquartered in Simi Valley, CA, AVANA CUSO is America’s premier credit union service organization (CUSO) focused on commercial real estate lending, including SBA 504 loans. For decades, we have partnered with credit unions across the country to offer competitive and collaborative lending solutions. AVANA CUSO is a proud member of the AVANA Family of Companies.

Oaktree and AVANA Companies form a $250MM Joint Venture

December 18, 2024/in Press

AVANA-Oaktree Private Credit Partnership aims to empower small businesses and drive local economic growth

AVANA Companies (“AVANA”) and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management L.P. (“Oaktree”) announce the formation of a new $250MM AVANA-Oaktree Private Credit Partnership (“AOPCP”) for its direct private commercial real estate lending strategy. Through the JV, AVANA will use the capital to provide private debt financing in the United States over the next three years.

AOPCP aims to invigorate local economies and create jobs. The funding will provide SMEs in the commercial real estate sector with access to capital in the form of bridge and construction loans for all CRE products.

“Oaktree has firsthand experience through past partnerships with AVANA. The AVANA team’s unparalleled expertise and reputation in the CRE lending industry aligns with our focus on risk control in private credit investments,” said Justin Guichard, Managing Director and Co-Portfolio Manager at Oaktree.

Both AVANA and Oaktree have extensive experience in the CRE industry and supporting SMEs across the USA. Recently, AVANA Companies entered a partnership with a national hospitality group to provide franchisers with capital to develop and renovate commercial properties across the United States.

“We meet with every business owner we have lent to; it is important to us to put a name and a face to a loan as part of our due diligence, credit underwriting, and risk mitigation,” said Sanat Patel, Chief Lending Officer and co-Founder of AVANA. “Our ability to build capital for a better tomorrow lies in our team’s deep-rooted history in lending and the trust we have in our partners at Oaktree.”

Since 2002, AVANA has served over 500 small businesses with 66% of their entrepreneurial customers being black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC). AVANA has funded $1B in loans to minority entrepreneurs, which have directly and indirectly created over 5,500 jobs.

“After 22 years of working within the CRE industry and SMEs, we recognize the challenges of this tight lending environment and that’s why we are challenging our team to lend $250MM in the first year,” said Sundip Patel, CEO and co-founder of AVANA Companies. “This capital from Oaktree enables us to multiply our social impact exponentially, offering financing opportunities to entrepreneurs and supporting financial inclusion.”

To learn more about investment and loan opportunities with AVANA Companies, visit www.avanacompanies.com.

About AVANA Companies:

AVANA Companies (AVANA), founded in 2002, is an asset management platform aimed at building capital for a better tomorrow by stimulating economic growth, creating jobs, and contributing to sustainable projects. Headquartered in Arizona, USA with regional offices in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, AVANA serves small businesses, entrepreneurs, Institutional and retail investors, and credit unions in these markets. AVANA provides private credit commercial real estate loans through AVANA Capital, AVANA CUSO, Ezdaher.sa and LendThrive™. AVANA also offers private credit commercial investment opportunities to institutional and individual investors through AVANA Fund and EqualSeat™.

AVANA Capital, LLC is licensed in California under DBO license number 603K752 and in Arizona under CBK license number 0921662. To learn more, visit www.avanacompanies.com or follow AVANA Companies on LinkedIn.

About Oaktree:

Oaktree is a leader among global investment managers specializing in alternative investments, with $193 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2024. The firm emphasizes an opportunistic, value-oriented and risk-controlled approach to investments in credit, private equity, real estate and listed equities. The firm has over 1,200 employees and offices in 23 cities worldwide. For additional information, please visit Oaktree’s website at http://www.oaktreecapital.com/.

About us

AVANA CUSO is one of the most seasoned credit union service organizations (CUSO) focused on commercial real estate. Established in 1998.

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Embracing the Future of Lending

Powerful Panel Discussions

Sessions Addressing Timely Topics

Forging Lasting Connections

About AVANA CUSO

AVANA-Oaktree Private Credit Partnership aims to empower small businesses and drive local economic growth

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