Problem Loans


Beware Assumptions: 5,400 feet makes a difference!

I live at sea level but only two hours from Mt. Rainier. We had a very late summer this year, some would say we missed it altogether in the Northwest. But Friday was a summer

Posted Aug 21 2011 by Linda Keith

The ALLL Time Warp: Why getting it done well is getting harder

This article,The Allowance for Loan and Lease Loss Becomes a Heavier Burden for Credit Unions, includes my thoughts on one of the up-and-coming challenges for credit unions and banks in keeping up with the time

Posted Jun 21 2011 by Linda Keith

Response to increasing delinquencies/charge-offs: Loosen credit policies?????

For some lenders, the delinquency/charge-off figures continue to rise as banks and credit unions work through their challenging loans. Here are two ideas for improving the charge-off ratio: Loosen credit policies and guidelines At the

Posted Oct 29 2010 by Linda Keith

Five high-level bankers speak up on availability of small business credit

To prepare for a CNN interview on the 'freeing up' of small business lending, I had a very interesting discussion with:•    Director of SBA Special Assets with a national $282 Billion Bank •    CEO of

Posted Sep 16 2010 by Linda Keith

How your business borrower can manage cash flow better...

Toolbox for Finance offers this article by SAP: Managing Cash Flow in Times of Crisis.It is a good article to read if you have business borrower's challenged by cash flow...and I am guessing that most

Posted Jun 25 2010 by Linda Keith

Spotting Fraud: Now You See It, Now You Don't

What works on auditors may work on lenders A 2009 study performed by researchers at the University of Massachusetts at Amhurst demonstrated that  auditors are less likely to find manipulated earnings when management directs their

Posted Mar 31 2010 by Linda Keith

The Dirty Dozen: 12 Indications of Fraud

Here is an interesting post by Jane Harford, FHA DE Underwriter writing for the National Association of Mortgage Processors blog.She does a great job of listing the red flags that pop for her and what

Posted Mar 22 2010 by Linda Keith

Temperature or Tides? Wants or Needs?

Your business borrowers are making big decisions in very 'confused seas'. Is it time to:Rehire workers?Add to production?Beef up inventory?Market more aggressively?Borrow money?Last weekend I planned to take the kayak out for a trial

Posted Mar 10 2010 by Linda Keith

Five questions to ask in 2010 to make the loan!

I predict the 2009 tax returns will be filed earlier rather than later. Why? The congress has liberalized the rules for carrying back Net Operating Losses. If the business paid taxes in any of the

Posted Jan 05 2010 by Linda Keith

Peanut Butter or Jelly? Market Share that Sticks

Peanut butter is sticky. Jelly slides right off. If your business borrower is pursuing growth during the recession, use this analogy to evaluate their choice.This thinking was inspired by today's post in  Steve McKee's blog:

Posted Dec 01 2009 by Linda Keith