What Are Underwriting Standards?

The underwriting standards in place help to set benchmarks for how much debt may be issued to a person, the terms of the loans, how much debt a specific company is willing to issue, and what interest rates will be charged.

How Underwriting Standards Work

Sound underwriting standards protect financial institutions from excessive risks that can lead to losses. History indicates that lending and underwriting standards are generally pro-cyclical. As competitive pressures increase for loan growth, banks may be enticed to ease underwriting standards to expand the loan portfolio in order to generate earnings. As conditions begin to deteriorate, this easing of underwriting standards can cause banks to face an increased risk, followed by rising losses and an eventual tightening of underwriting standards.

For example, during the financial crisis of 2008-2009, some lenders reduced prepayment fees and offered heightened flexibility on the terms of the loans they issued. During that same crisis, many companies also tightened underwriting standards (one of the culprits in the downturn).

Requirements for Underwriting Standards  

The choice to modify a financial institution's lending terms and underwriting standards is usually the result of decisions made by the board and senior management. Alternatively, subtle, de facto revisions in policies can result from how standards and procedures are actually applied in practice. In both instances, appropriate risk management steps must be taken to ensure risks are properly identified, monitored and controlled, and that loan pricing, terms or other safeguards against nonperformance are appropriate for the risks being taken.

A Federal Reserve study of lending practices outlined six core lending terms and underwriting standards for maintaining strong credit discipline and assuring smart credit decisions. Those standards include:

1. Formal credit policies should communicate a bank’s risk appetite while providing specific guidance and measurement standards along with a consistent process for approving and monitoring exceptions.
2. Formal credit approval processes should be independent of line lending functions.
3. Standardized loan approval documents should be used that promote consistent financial analysis, collateral valuation, guarantor support, and covenant provisions. 
4. Use forward-looking tools to assess projections and various scenarios that focus on key determinants of performance.
5. Use risk rating systems that accurately assess quantitative and qualitative considerations to evaluate credit risk at inception and during the life of the loan.
6. Ensure management and lender information systems support the approval process and ongoing monitoring of portfolio composition and risk positions.

Example of Underwriting Standards

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has its own recommended guidelines for underwriting standards for credit cards. Per the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), underwriting standards help ensure credit cards offered to customers meet an acceptable level of risk.

Some of the key underwriting standards that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) recommends for credit cards include: 

• Assessment of the applicant’s repayment willingness and capacity.
• Credit history and performance on past and existing obligations. 
• Income assessments, such as self employment income, investment income, etc.
• Consideration of the borrower’s aggregate credit relationship with the bank.