Project a bank's CF Statement? modeling help

Hi, I'm prep for my FIG interview. I have the BS and IS down, but still confused abgt CF statement. 1) do analysts actually model CF statements in FIG group, especially for banks? I've seen some models that just use cash as a plug number to balance the BS.... is that right? 2) also a Q on charge offs.... I know it helps calculate the ending allowance balance... but the charge off $$ doesn't hit any IS or BS line items?? this just feels weird...

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Best Response

Charge offs only affect the balance sheet whereas loan loss provisions are taken through the income statement.

For example, let's take a bank that has $1000 of loans of which $10 are non-performing loans (NPLs). The bank might hold hold $5 of loan loss reserves (a counterbalance, similar to accumulated depreciation held against gross PP&E). If the bank charges off a bad loan, the NPL balance declines by 5 while the loan loss reserve also declines by 5. This has zero income statement impact.

In this same example, let's say the bank decides to increase its loan loss reserves to $10. It takes a $5 charge to the income statement and builds up its loan loss reserves to $10. This has both an income statement and balance sheet impact.

 
"models_and_bottles"

Charge offs only affect the balance sheet whereas loan loss provisions are taken through the income statement.

For example, let's take a bank that has $1000 of loans of which $10 are non-performing loans (NPLs). The bank might hold hold $5 of loan loss reserves (a counterbalance, similar to accumulated depreciation held against gross PP&E). If the bank charges off a bad loan, the NPL balance declines by 5 while the loan loss reserve also declines by 5. This has zero income statement impact.

In this same example, let's say the bank decides to increase its loan loss reserves to $10. It takes a $5 charge to the income statement and builds up its loan loss reserves to $10. This has both an income statement and balance sheet impact.

See page 4 http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/ONE/1102086948x0x854371/74E84F83…

In your example, yes, it the LLR release perfectly offsets the charge off, then yes the net impact is 0. In practice though, they rarely if ever completely offset each other.

Both a charge off and an increase to the the LLR have a negative impact on the income statement.

I hope for your clients sake that you do not work in fig

 
In your example, yes, it the LLR release perfectly offsets the charge off, then yes the net impact is 0. In practice though, they rarely if ever completely offset each other.

Did I say that they always completely offset each other?

Both a charge off and an increase to the the LLR have a negative impact on the income statement.

By your own admission, that's not always true. Hence why banks have reserve builds and reserve drawdowns.

 

Where would you get numbers for operating activities (net income, D&A, etc) and working capital (current assets / liabilities)? Even if you wind up sourcing the numbers from somewhere, your model would then turn into just a pretty assortment of numbers.

More experienced monkeys, please feel free to chime in.

in it 2 win it
 

I mean, you could, but it would be pretty meaningless I would imagine.

"They are all former investment bankers that were laid off in the economic collapse that Nancy Pelosi caused. They have no marketable skills, but by God they work hard."
 

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