Similar to identity theft, this type of fraud happens when an unauthorized individual gain access through online banking applications, capturing the account information to create and write bad checks.
An adverse action notice is a document sent to a loan applicant stating a bank’s rationale for denying a loan. It may also contain a counteroffer, such as a lesser amount or a request for an approved co-borrower.
The term “aging exceptions” refers to a group of critical exceptions that have not been resolved within a reasonable amount of time.
Altered check fraud occurs when a fraudster changes the amounts and Payee from a stolen check.
API is short for “application programming interface.” Technology companies like Alogent rely on APIs to connect multiple software applications, thereby enabling a two-way exchange of information to support users’ needs.
Audit and exam prep is a process that financial institutions go through in order to adequately prepare for upcoming audits and exams.
An authorized signer form is a document that allows an account holder to grant a range of clearance levels to individuals to perform certain functions within a bank account.

Commercial underwriting involves gathering and analyzing information to make an informed decision to approve or reject a commercial credit or loan request.

Data Examined During Commercial Underwriting

Commercial loans tend to be highly scrutinized from a financial viewpoint—especially as they increase in value. Data helps the financial institution reduce risk and make an informed lending decision. The types of data used during commercial underwriting can vary from institution to institution, but common criteria include:

  • the company’s age
  • the company’s management expertise
  • the company’s collateral value
  • the applicant’s personal credit
  • financial spreads that analyze data from the company’s balance sheets, tax returns, and profit and loss statements

Factors Considered in Making a Loan Determination

These variables are then reviewed with the financial institution’s safety and soundness in mind. Questions commonly asked include:

  • Is this loan a good fit for our bank or credit union?
  • How risky is this type of lending?
  • How much collateral is available?
  • What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats involved with approving this loan? (SWOT analysis)

Who Makes Commercial Underwriting Decisions?

Loan determinations can be made in several ways, based on the loan and the institution’s policies. Some lenders are given the authority to decide on certain types of loans up to a specific dollar amount. Over that threshold, the decision may fall to a senior credit officer or loan committee. The committee is often a wise idea, as it may identify weaknesses that the lender did not see. For exceptionally large loans, a financial institution may make a decision by a committee with final approval contingent on agreement after a review by the director’s loan committee.

Commercial Lending Resources

For more information about commercial lending, be sure to check out our extensive resource library with free spreadsheets, whitepapers, videos and eBooks.

Check out our banking definitions page for more terminology.

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