Credit Analysis: Meaning, Ratios, 3 Steps of Credit Analysis

Credit analysis is the process of evaluating an applicant’s loan request or a corporation’s debt issue to determine the likelihood that the borrower will live up to his/her obligations. In other words, credit analysis is the method by which one calculates the creditworthiness of an individual or organization.

Table of Contents

What is Credit Analysis?

Credit analysis involves various financial analysis techniques, including ratio and trend analysis, the creation of projections, and a detailed analysis of cash flows.

Credit analysis also includes examining collateral and other sources of repayment and a credit history and management ability. Analysts attempt to predict the probability that a borrower will default on their debts and also the severity of losses in the event of default.

By credit analysis, we mean analysis of the eligibility for getting a loan in the light of applications.

At the time of credit analysis, the loan officer should carefully examine the logic and purpose of the credit. Extending credit without analyzing the applicant and the loan applied will be very risky.

Any lacking in the analysis process or when the analyst’s capability is not up to the mark, credit analysis will turn in vain.

Eligibility in getting loans;

History of the past loan transaction data
Ability to use a loan and the characteristics of the potential borrower
Ability to repay the applied loan amount
Amount of capital to support any contingencies
Influence on the repayment ability by the domestic and international economic condition
The presence of any risk factors that may make him a defaulter by interfering with the cash flow stream

3 Steps of Credit Analysis

Credit proposals are needed to be analyzed by following three logical steps.

1. Steps During the Information Collection Stage

Collecting information about the applicant

The first step in credit analysis is to collect information about the applicant regarding his/her record of loan repayment, character, individual and organizational reputation, financial solvency, ability to utilize the load(if granted), etc.

The bank may inquire into the transaction record of the applicant with the bank and other banks. The repayment history of loans previously granted may also reveal useful information in this regard.

It requires the collection of information from the past. It presents financial statements of the business provided by the applicant.

Whether involved in any forbidden activities such as gambling, drinking habit, or any other unethical affairs, analysis of the personal characteristics is also focused on in this step.

Collecting information about the business for which a loan is required

The loan officer should know the purpose of the loan, the loan amount, and if it is possible to implement the project with that amount. The banker should make sure the project is feasible. The project must have good potential, and the applicant must have a good plan to execute the project.

The bank should know the purpose of the loan, the amount of the loan, and whether it is possible to implement the project with that amount. Collecting information about the sources from which the borrower would repay the loan is essential.

The loan officer should also collect information if the borrower took any loan before and the present condition of that loan and know the asset’s market price that the borrower is willing to pledge against the loan.

Collecting information about the recovery process

The loan officer should collect information about the sources from which the borrower would repay the loan. Information for this purpose may include the profitability of the project, the payback period, the sensitivity of the project cash flow to different economic factors, etc.

Assessing the overall political and economic risks
Identification and give explanations for the positive and negative factors in conducting the business
Evaluation of the positive sides of cash inflow and its possible stability in the light of the historical demand of the business
Consider the future consequences and need for investment in light of the applied loan proposal and repayment assurance.
Evaluation of the impact on the balance sheet of the borrowers after using the loan
Assessing the possibility and the extent to which change occurs in the risk level previously measured

Collecting information about the security

Banks, most often than not, lend money against personal and non-personal securities. A bank would always prefer getting the loan repaid by the borrower to realizing the loan from the sale proceeds of the security.

However, should the borrower defaults in repaying the loan, the lender will have to fall back on the security. Hence, it is always advisable to know information like price stability and security before advancing the loan.

Collecting additional information if necessary

When the loan under consideration is for a large amount, a bank may find it necessary to gather additional information like the overall business activities in the economy, the probably political and economic condition of the country, efficiency and candidness of the management team, likely effect of local and international competition on the project, etc.

Collection of detailed descriptions of the proposed loan.
Collection of detailed information about the loan applicant.
Collection of the growth of business activities of the loan applicant.
A detailed description of the general financial objectives and plans of the business.
Collection and evaluation of other related information in this regard.

2. Steps During the Information Analysis Stage

Analyzing the accuracy of information

The information given in and along with the application is analyzed to judge their accuracy.

In this regard, the analyst would scrutinize the national identity card, driver’s license, trade license, partnership deed, corporate charters, resolutions, and other legal documents attached to the application.

Inspection of the proposed business location
Collection of detailed information regarding profit earnings from- the existing bank clients and other parties related to the business
Inspection of the internal working environment of the business
Analysis of the information regarding trading (selling/ purchasing) and the availability of getting credit opportunities from the suppliers (Trade Credit), and the relationship with the suppliers
Analysis of the audited financial statements

Analyzing the financial ability of the applicant

In this stage, the financial ability of the applicant is taken into consideration. The financial solvency of the applicant and his skill and capability are important factors in this regard.

The analyst works out different financial ratios from the past, proforma income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and other applicants’ financial statements and analyzes them to conclude their financial ability.

Analyze the honesty, integrity, sincerity in an individual, and overall sense towards the proposed business on the owners, employees, staff, and laborers.
After considering the success of the management of the business, the loan officer should examine the intention to repay the loan.
Analysis of the possible political and economic risk.
Identification and measurement of positive and negative aspects in conducting the business.
Evaluation of the operational possibility in consideration of the proposed loan.
Identify the sources and uses of the proposed loan project’s future cash inflow and outflow.
Determination of demand for working capital at present and shortly.
Assessment of secondary safety of the collateral and surety.

Analyzing the effectiveness of the project

One aspect of credit analysis is the analysis of the quality, purpose, and prospect of the project for which the loan has been applied. The banker will be at ease to grant loans if the project is productive, expandable, and of course, profitable.

On the other hand, if the project is in a declining stage, is up against intense competition, or is confronted by adverse conditions, the bank is likely to be reluctant to grant any loan.

Determination of the explicit or implicit risk levels of the proposed loan.
If the level of risk is beyond acceptable, then the loan proposal should be closed with a negative comment.

Analyzing the possibility of loan repayment

The analyst looks at what effect the proposed loan will have on increasing the liquidity and income of the applicant.

The net cash flow is a good indicator of the ability of the applicant to repay the loan along with interest and other expenses within due time.

An analyst may also be interested to see the interest burden and fixed charge burden of the applicant.

Determination of the loan types, duration of the loan, and amount of interest in light of risks associated with the loan.
The loan analysis process should be stopped here if the terms and conditions for the applied loan are not acceptable.
Get approvals from the appropriate loan sanctioning authority.
Sit for discussion with the borrowers about the acceptable conditions of the loan.
Preparation and maintenance of necessary documents for the permitted loan.

3. Decision-Making Stage

Depending on the analysis, the analyst identifies and measures the credit risk associated with a loan application and determines whether the inherent risk level is acceptable.

Suppose the analyst is satisfied with the acceptable risk and is convinced that the loan will be repaid. In that case, he/she prepares and submits a recommendation to the appropriate loan approval authority for sanctioning the loan.

View Points of Credit Analysis

Loan activity is one of the risky functions of a bank. This is risky because a major portion of the loanable fund is the depositors’ money.

The source of the loanable funds is the depositor’s money, which the bank should pay on demand. So, if the bank becomes unable to pay on demand, it may be at the fury of the depositors.

On the other hand, loans are the main source of a bank’s profit. Thus, banks have to keep the faith of the depositors put onto it and earn profit to make the business viable.

Bank takes some necessary information from the borrower to recover the loan and analyze his financial condition. This is called Credit Analysis. In 1975, Jack R Crigger described this in his article “An Ocean of 5 C-s”.

The five C’s are popularly used in many countries around the world. Along with the 5 C’s, three other methods are used in the same perspective. These three methods are “CAMPARI,” “PARSAR,” and “5Rs”.

Use of Financial Ratios for Credit Analysis

The creditworthiness of a loan application can be measured by analyzing the data in the financial statements.

Ratio analysis is done either for comparison or for identifying trend analysis indicators. However, the fundamental ratios calculated from the financial statements are stated below;

Measures of Liquidity
Measures of Management Efficiency
Measures of Loan-Equity Balance
Measures of Profitability

Purposes of use	Title of ratio	Determining formula
1. Assessing Liquidity These ratios examine the ability of the organization to meet short-term obligations.	1. Current ratio	Current assets / Current liabilities
	2. Acid test ratio	(Current assets – stock in trade) / Current liabilities
	3. Current test ratio	Working capital / Current assets
	4 Stock to current assets ratio	Stock in trade / Current assets
2. Assessing Management Efficiency These ratios examine the skill & the efficiency of the management by earning profits through increased sales.	1. Average collection period	Receivables / No of days in a year
	2. Stock turnover ratio	Sales / Average Stock in trade
	3. Fixed assets town over ratio	Sales / Net fixed assets
	4. Total assets town over ratio	Sales / Total assets
	2. Debt-equity ratio	Profit / Sales
3. Leverage Ratios These ratios determined the organization’s data capacity and the interest payability of the debts managed.	1. Debt to total assets ratio	Total debts / Total assets
	2. Debt-equity ratio	Total long-term debts / Total equity capital
	3. Times of interest earned	Income before interest and. taxes / Annual interest expense
	4. Long-term debt to total capitalization	Average payable creditors / Daily average purchase
5. Profitability Ratio These ratios determined the existing performance & future profit-earning potentiality.	1. Income to total sales	Net income / Sales
	2. Income to total assets	Net income / Total assets
	3. Net income to equity	Net income / Equity and retained earnings
	4. Total income to sales	Net income / Sales
	5. Cost of sales to total cost of production	Cost of sales / Cost of production
	6. Distribution cost to cost of sales	Distribution cost / Cost of Sales
	7. Administrative cost to cost of sales	Administrative cost / Cost of sales