Creates credit approval memoranda with borrower analysis, deal structure, and risk mitigation documentation. Use when preparing credit packages, documenting loan recommendations, or presenting to credit committee.
Third-party reports: Credit bureau reports (D&B, Experian business), industry benchmarks, credit rating agency data if rated
Guarantor financials: Personal financial statements, liquidity verification for any individual guarantors
Workflow
Build the borrower profile
Summarize entity history, ownership structure, and management experience
Identify the borrower's primary revenue drivers and customer/supplier concentration risks
Note any related-entity transactions or affiliate lending considerations
Analyze financial performance
Spread financial statements into a standardized template (common-size and trend analysis)
Calculate key credit metrics: debt service coverage ratio (DSCR), leverage ratio (Debt/EBITDA), current ratio, fixed charge coverage, tangible net worth
Compare metrics against the institution's internal risk rating thresholds and industry medians
Identify trends — improving, stable, or deteriorating — and flag anomalies (one-time gains, unusual adjustments)
Structure the deal
State the requested facility type, amount, rate, tenor, and repayment terms
Define proposed covenants: financial (minimum DSCR, maximum leverage), reporting (frequency and type of financial deliverables), and negative covenants (restrictions on additional debt, dividends, asset sales)
Specify collateral package with advance rates and margining methodology (e.g., 80% on eligible A/R < 90 days, 50% on inventory at NLV)
Address guaranty structure — limited vs. unlimited, joint and several, guarantor net worth thresholds
Assess and mitigate risk
Assign a proposed internal risk rating with supporting rationale
For each risk, document the specific mitigant (e.g., "Customer concentration mitigated by credit insurance on top-3 accounts and diversified backlog")
For trade finance facilities, address country risk, documentary compliance risk, and counterparty bank risk [VERIFY against institution's country risk matrix]
Note any policy exceptions required and the justification for each
Compile the approval package
Assemble the CAM with standard sections: Executive Summary, Borrower Overview, Financial Analysis, Deal Structure, Risk Assessment, Recommendation
Include a clear recommendation (Approve / Approve with Conditions / Decline) with the specific approval authority level required [VERIFY delegated lending authority limits]
Output
The completed credit approval package should contain: