The Lending Brief Podcast

The $1.6 Trillion Rollercoaster: Inside the Federal Student Loan Portfolio

In this episode of The Center for USA Lending [https://www.linkedin.com/company/centerforusalending/posts/?feedView=all]'s The Lending Brief, sponsored by Allocore [https://www.linkedin.com/company/allocore/posts/?feedView=all], we're joined by Jay Hurt [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayhurt/], former CFO of the Office of Federal Student Aid and a 34-year veteran of the U.S. Department of Education, for a candid look at one of the federal government's most complex and politically charged credit programs. From a $37 billion profit in 2015 to a $493 billion liability by 2024, Jay unpacks how administrative actions — not just legislation — drove a half-trillion-dollar swing in portfolio value, and what that rollercoaster means for American taxpayers. He also breaks down the coming waves of student loan defaults, what the collapse of the SAVE plan means for the 8.8 million borrowers currently in forbearance, and why the new Education-Treasury partnership to restart collections may be a critical turning point for the portfolio's long-term health. Want more from the Lending Brief? Check out our Newsletter [https://share.hsforms.com/2FjOxwtEDSwmiCMREdvI__geiugz].

Inside FHA and the Future of Housing Finance with Jeffrey Little

In this episode of The Center for USA Lending [https://www.linkedin.com/company/centerforusalending/posts/?feedView=all]'s The Lending Brief, sponsored by Allocore [https://www.linkedin.com/company/allocore/posts/?feedView=all], we're joined by Jeffrey Little [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-little-507b14174/], former senior executive at the Federal Housing Administration and current Deputy Director of the National Leased Housing Association, for a behind-the-scenes look at the federal government’s largest housing credit program. From navigating the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis to managing a $1.6 trillion insurance portfolio, Jeff explains how FHA balances mission-driven lending with real-world credit risk. He also dives into the biggest challenges facing the agency today, including chronic underinvestment in technology, the constraints of congressional appropriations, and why modernizing federal credit systems is harder than it looks. Plus, Jeff shares his perspective on the growing bipartisan push to increase housing supply, the barriers facing multifamily finance, and what it will take for federal programs to keep pace with market demands. Want more from the Lending Brief? Check out our Newsletter [https://share.hsforms.com/2FjOxwtEDSwmiCMREdvI__geiugz].

$1.7 Trillion in Student Loans, Who's Going to Manage Them?

In this episode of The Center for USA Lending [https://usalending.org/#/]'s The Lending Brief, sponsored by Allocore [https://allocore.com/one-solution/], we're joined by Kyle Shohfi [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-shohfi-b877282a2/], an education policy analyst at the Congressional Research Service, for an inside look at the federal student loan portfolio and the seismic policy shifts reshaping it. From the four-year repayment pause to a surge in defaults, jumping from 3.7 million to 6 million borrowers in a single quarter, Kyle breaks down what the numbers really mean for American borrowers and taxpayers. He also weighs in on the administration's plan to transfer student loan administration from the Department of Education to Treasury, the statutory hurdles standing in the way, and why the true cost of federal credit programs remains so poorly understood, even on Capitol Hill. Want more from the Lending Brief? Check out our Newsletter [https://share.hsforms.com/2FjOxwtEDSwmiCMREdvI__geiugz].

Bill Webner on Why Federal Lending Needs a Single, Modern Platform (Repost)

In this reposted episode of The Center for USA Lending’s [https://usalending.org/#/] The Lending Brief, sponsored by Allocore, Bill Webner [https://www.linkedin.com/in/billwebner/], CEO of Allocore [https://allocore.com/one-solution/], joins the podcast to break down why federal lending remains one of government’s most mission-critical—but technologically neglected—functions, and what it will take to modernize it at scale. Drawing on his career spanning Freddie Mac, Booz Allen, Capgemini, and now Allocore, Webner explains how legacy, fragmented loan systems slow disbursements, increase fraud risk, and drive unnecessary operating costs across more than 175 federal credit programs. He contrasts the federal approach with modern commercial banking platforms, where speed and accountability are the norm, not the exception. The conversation explores lessons from SBA’s pandemic-era lending programs, why emergency conditions often catalyze modernization, and how a sanctioned, shared lending platform could dramatically improve speed to disbursement, borrower experience, and fraud prevention across government. Webner also discusses why federal lending modernization is uniquely solvable, how it mirrors past shared-services efforts like payroll and travel, and why getting this right has an outsized impact on the broader economy. Want more from The Lending Brief? Check out The Lending Brief Newsletter. [https://share.hsforms.com/2FjOxwtEDSwmiCMREdvI__geiugz]

From Field Offices to $220B: Inside USDA’s Lending Empire

In this episode of The Center for USA Lending’s [https://usalending.org/#/] The Lending Brief, sponsored by Allocore, we sit down with longtime USDA leader Roger Glendenning [https://www.linkedin.com/in/roger-glendenning-0092b2b5/] for a sweeping look at one of the federal government’s largest and most complex lending portfolios. Drawing on a 36-year career spanning field offices to the C-suite, Roger walks us through the evolution of rural development programs, from knocking on doors to collect loan payments to managing a $220 billion portfolio serving over a million borrowers. He shares insights on who these programs serve, from first-time homebuyers to rural utilities, and how federal credit has adapted to new priorities like broadband access. The conversation also explores persistent challenges, including fragmented borrower experiences, outdated technology, and the need for stronger coordination across agencies. Finally, Roger makes the case for shared services as the future of federal lending, highlighting opportunities for cross-agency collaboration, centralized platforms, and smarter use of existing contracts to modernize how government delivers credit.  Want more from the Lending Brief? Check out our Newsletter. [https://share.hsforms.com/2FjOxwtEDSwmiCMREdvI__geiugz]