Each banking institution has its own procedures, rules and methodologies for examining and analyzing the creditworthiness of a potential borrower applying for a loan. The underwriting procedure results in a positive decision on the loan application or refusal to grant a loan, or a compromise decision: granting a loan, but in the amount and/or under the conditions that are favorable to the bank, even if they differ from the client's expectations. That is, a credit underwriter is a specialist who makes such decisions.

A conventional loan is a type of mortgage, the peculiarity of which is the absence of state guarantees. On the one hand, it can be considered a certain disadvantage, but on the other hand, the non-participation of the state makes the terms of the loan much more flexible.

A recourse loan or debt entails personal liability of the borrower. A non-recourse loan does not allow the lender to claim anything other than collateral. For example, if someone fails to repay a non-recourse mortgage loan, athe lender may only foreclose on the real estate that was the collateral.

A loan disclosure is a document or set of documents in which the lender is required to set out all of the terms and conditions of the loan you applied of (including any additional fees, charges, insurances, etc.) in a completely transparent manner and describe all details of the handling and use of funds and data.

In essence, a loan estimate is the same thing as a loan disclosure, only in a preliminary form and solely for introductory purposes. It is a document containing detailed information on the selected loan proposal, including the interest rate, term, repayment schedule, etc.

A USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) loan is a mortgage loan with no down payment issued to U.S. citizens for the purchase of real estate in rural and suburban areas. As a rule, the target audience of USDA loans are people with incomes below average, who cannot afford to buy a house in urban areas, as well as people who, for some reason, are unable to conclude a standard mortgage agreement.

An FDA (Federal Department of Agriculture) loan means a government low-interest loan system designed for people who are unable to take advantage of a standard mortgage. The main features of FDA loans are that there is no down payment and that the borrower may only purchase a home in clearly designated rural or suburban areas.

Personal loan is a loan granted directly to individuals for the purchase of consumer goods. Such loans are taken not only for long-term purchases of expensive goods (cars, furniture), but also for everyday products, such as cell home appliances or even food. It comes in the form of either the sale of goods with deferred payment or a bank loan for consumer purposes, including through credit cards. It charges a fairly high interest rate. Usually, personal loans are accompanied by additional fees and charges, which increase the real cost of credit and form the so-called hidden interest rate. This is why choosing a loan from one bank or another based on the advertised interest rate on the loan may not always be the best choice. In this case you should be guided by the calculation of the full cost of credit.

The basic way is to break down your balance by month and apply the interest rate you consider. However, this leaves amortization and additional options, such as insurance, behind the scenes. Moreover, there are two methods of calculating a loan payment: annuity and differential, each with its own formula. To make things easier, you can use a free loan calculator.

A loan forbearance is a waiver from the enforcement of a loan debt. In fact, it is the lender's consent to temporarily suspend the repayment schedule of the loan agreement. A loan forbearance is usually considered if a borrower faces an emergency such as a serious illness or loss of income. However, the specific terms of a loan forbearance are negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

Predatory lending is the practice of issuing loans with extremely high interest rates. Predatory lending methods include direct deception of borrowers, aggressive sales techniques, taking advantage of borrowers' financial unawareness, confusing contractual terms, and so on. In some countries, predatory lending is illegal.