A loan participation note (LPN) is a financial instrument that allows investors to acquire a claim to a piece of an outstanding loan created by an individual lender. This type of product is commonly utilized by credit unions, with participation agreements used to enable greater local and regional economic participation via the sharing of risks, rewards and opportunities with local individuals and businesses.

A loan participation note first starts with a lead bank or lender who is issuing a loan. The lead bank will typically underwrite the loan, in order to assess the debtors’ creditworthiness and the appropriateness of the amount requested. Once the loan is issued, participants, such as a credit union, can then purchase a pro-rata share of the loan and receive the same benefits and obligations that the lead lender has. The issuing lender manages the collection, administration and other operational requirements associated with the loan, while participants potentially benefit from diversification by portioning the risk of default or other financial losses across a number of investors.

One of the main advantages of a loan participation note is access to larger, more potentially risky loans than an individual credit union would generally take on. This not only mitigates risk further through a diversified pool of investors, but offers access to larger and more structurally complex loans. An LPN arrangement also may allow greater leverage of capital through the pooling together of resources by a larger number of investors, allowing access to a larger portfolio of investments. This can improve returns, as larger loans often yield higher interest rates. However, it is important to note that the pool of investors dictates the level of diversification, and that increased diversification is only possible with larger LPNs and with more investors.

Finally, a loan participation note is a route for lenders and investors to practice responsible lending and investment, as it allows customers to more easily access capital to help them manage their financial commitments. Further, it provides investment opportunities to individuals, who otherwise may not be able to benefit from the higher returns of larger loans, while also giving the opportunity to benefit their local communities.

In summary, a loan participation note is an effective way to spread risk, while also presenting an opportunity for increased investment returns. This type of financial instrument is particularly attractive to lenders, investors and the local community, providing access to a larger range of investments, a sharing of risk, and a means for responsible lending and investing.