Years ago, Mike, a very profitable bank customer of mine, asked me to loan some money to his friend. Unfortunately, Mike’s friend had a terrible credit history.

In an effort to appease Mike and limit the bank’s risk, I told Mike I could only loan his friend money if Mike co-signed the loan. Mike co-signed for his friend, even though I urged Mike not to take the risk.

Mike later had to fire his friend for alcoholism and personally pay his friend’s loan!

Proverbs 11:15 teaches, “He who is guarantor for a stranger will surely suffer for it, But he who hates being a guarantor is secure.”

If someone asks you to co-sign their loan, there’s probably a good reason they can’t acquire one on their own. Save yourself the pain, don’t sign.