Manual Underwriting is a huge bottleneck!
By the time the financials are actually in the template and tied out, most of the turnaround is already gone. Not because the deals are hard. Because getting three years of statements off scanned PDFs and into a usable spread is slow, manual, and error prone every single time. Honestly it feels like data entry half the time.
The part of the job that actually needs an underwriter, the judgment, the risk read, the structuring, gets squeezed into whatever time is left and there usually isn't much.
The front end of spreading hasn't really changed. Feels like every other function in the bank has moved on and credit is still grinding it out by hand.
How's your team handling the data entry side of spreading, or is everyone just powering through it manually?
Based on the most helpful WSO content, your frustration with manual underwriting and the bottleneck it creates is a common pain point in the industry. Many teams still rely on manual processes for spreading financials, which, as you mentioned, consumes significant time and leaves little room for the critical aspects of underwriting like judgment, risk assessment, and structuring.
Some larger banks and institutions have started addressing this issue by implementing centralized processes and leveraging technology to improve efficiency. Here are a few strategies that teams are using to handle the data entry side of spreading:
Centralized Analyst Teams: Larger banks often have dedicated analyst teams responsible for spreading financials. These teams use standardized manuals and templates to ensure consistency and reduce errors. This allows underwriters to focus more on the judgment and structuring aspects of the deal.
Automation Tools: While not universally adopted, some institutions are exploring or implementing automation tools and software to extract data from scanned PDFs and input it into templates. This reduces the manual workload and speeds up the process.
Robust Templates: Banks are increasingly using underwriting and risk-rating templates that are pre-built to handle a variety of inputs. These templates streamline the process and ensure that the data is ready for analysis more quickly.
Process Management Systems: Some institutions have invested in systems that track and manage the entire underwriting process. These systems help reduce operational risk and ensure that all necessary steps are completed efficiently.
Outsourcing or Specialized Teams: In some cases, banks outsource the data entry portion or have specialized teams handle it. This allows underwriters to focus on higher-value tasks.
Despite these advancements, many teams still "power through it manually," as you described. The tradeoff between efficiency and maintaining control over the process remains a challenge, especially for smaller or less tech-savvy institutions. If your team is still stuck in manual processes, advocating for automation tools or centralized support could be a game-changer.
Sources: Q&A - Commercial Banking Credit Risk SVP in Southeast USA, Q&A - Commercial Banking Credit Risk SVP in Southeast USA, Q&A: Non-Bank Commercial Lending, Q&A:Commercial Banking SVP Ask Me Anything, Automation in fundamental finance roles
stop baiting AI discussions to plug ur slop software
Dude doesn't have the brain cells to type out a few paragraphs without using irritating AI slop language.
"The front end of spreading hasn't really changed" who tf even talks like this?
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