Welcome to Federal Credit Fridays! The U.S. government is one of the largest lenders and credit guarantors on earth. Its portfolio is estimated at over $3.6 trillion, as measured by loan assets and the face value of loan guarantees. The government uses credit for a wide variety of policy missions, including housing, higher education, small businesses, rural and urban economic development, infrastructure, and export promotion, among others. This podcast will familiarize you with the vast world of federal credit, the similarities and differences between these programs, and the importance of their work to achieving policy missions within the framework of public-private collaboration.
AI and Predictive Insights: The Next Frontier in Smarter, Faster Federal Loan Monitoring
In the final episode of our four-part Federal Credit Fridays series on federal loan monitoring, Anthony Curcio, Principal at Summit, brings the conversation full circle—exploring how AI and predictive insights are redefining efficiency, accuracy, and foresight in federal credit oversight.
When new loan programs are created, agencies often focus on launching them quickly—finalizing missions, eligibility, and underwriting standards. But as Anthony notes, “What is often overlooked, however, is a robust loan monitoring system for these credits once they’re obligated.”
To close out the series, Anthony is joined by Katie Janik and Michael Rodriguez, two seasoned experts in federal credit portfolio management and monitoring technology. Katie has over 25 years of experience structuring and overseeing multibillion-dollar infrastructure and renewable portfolios, while Michael has helped build monitoring systems for some of the government’s largest lending programs, including the U.S. Department of Energy’s $40 billion clean energy portfolio.
Together, they discuss how AI and analytics tools like Power BI and Tableau are transforming federal loan oversight—streamlining data collection, enhancing accuracy, and freeing up time for more strategic work.
“AI doesn’t replace decision-makers,” Katie explains. “It amplifies their ability to make informed, timely calls. In today’s environment—with growing portfolios, tighter budgets, and more scrutiny—that’s essential.”
By automating manual processes and providing real-time visibility, AI helps agencies scale oversight without expanding headcount.
“The bigger shift,” Michael adds, “is really providing better insight without more headcount.”
The conversation also looks ahead at the role of predictive insights in preventing issues before they escalate. Instead of reacting to defaults, predictive analytics empower teams to detect early warning signs, intervene sooner, and protect taxpayer dollars.
“If we wait for a default to occur in order to address the problem, we’re already too late,” Katie notes. “Predictive analytics give us a chance to intervene earlier.”
As this series concludes, one takeaway is clear: AI and predictive analytics are not replacing human judgment—they’re enhancing it. By transforming how agencies monitor loans, these technologies are helping build a smarter, faster, and more resilient future for federal credit programs.
