What Do Lenders Look for When Assessing My Bank Statements?

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Why does the lender need my bank statements and how do I obtain them? 

What will lenders be looking for on my bank statement? 

Will gambling affect my chances of getting a mortgage? 

What can I do to show the lender I am reliable? 

Speak to a Dedicated Mortgage Advisor in Hull 

Why does the lender need my bank statements and how do I obtain them? 

The reason a lender will need to see your bank statements is to learn more about you as a person and what your spending habits are like. How you have acted lately and the presentation of this on your bank statements can be the difference in how much a lender will let you borrow, if anything at all.

This is down to risk. A lender needs to know you’re responsible with your money and can be trusted to handle finances appropriately. After all, a mortgage is likely the biggest financial commitment you will ever make in your life and is not something to be taken lightly.

Your bank statements are easily obtained either in the post from your bank, over the counter from your local bank, or as often seen these days, as a printable version from your bank’s online platform.

What will lenders be looking for on my bank statement? 

So down to the main question now. What will they actually be looking for? What might flag up in their eyes?

Well as mentioned above, they need to know you’re being responsible with your finances. One of the things they’ll be looking at is if there are any overdrafts. Using this every so often is not necessarily a bad thing, but if you are exceeding your limit on a regular basis, this is going to put your level of trust into question.

More factors to be careful with are potential returned Direct Debits, which could show a lender you are not consistently reliable, and not disclosing loans at application stage, as it won’t look good if the lender finds outgoings on your bank statements that you failed to mention. Once again, this is a process of trust.

Other things to be aware of are missed payments for personal loans and things such as credit cards.  If you can prove you handle your money well and are able to meet monthly payment deadlines, a lender will be more likely to lend you an amount closer to that which you would like to borrow. 

Will gambling affect my chances of getting a mortgage? 

This is a question we find ourselves being asked on a regular basis. All too often do customers find themselves stuck when they have a history of gambling behind them. The occasional bit of fun is harmless, but if you are frequently betting large amounts of money, whether you’re making it back or not, a lender will not look at your situation favourably at all.

To learn more, please see our article on “Do Gambling Transactions Look Bad on My Bank Statements?” 

What can I do to show the lender I am reliable? 

From our experience in working with many first time buyers in Hull & home movers in Hull, we have found that most mortgage lenders will want at least three months bank statements from an applicant.

With that in mind, it’s time for you to forget the past and think about the future. You have at least three months to work on your finances. The first thing we’d suggest is if you are a frequenter of the local bookmakers or online gambling scene, you take a break for some time. This not only benefits your financial state but can also benefit your mental health too.

The next steps we would recommend taking are to trying to save money. For example, cooking in as opposed to eating out, treating yourself to unnecessary purchases and cancelling unneeded subscriptions are great ways of freeing up additional cash to ensure bills can be paid on time.

What this boils down to is simply being sensible and planning with plenty of time ahead of what you’re looking to do. The further away you find yourself from bouts of debt and financial uncertainty, the better your chances will be with a lender. 

Speak to a Dedicated Mortgage Advisor in Hull 

Whether you’re a First-Time Buyer, Moving Home or Self-Employed, it’s always important to keep on top of your finances. If you have a bad credit history and are unsure of what to do, you can always enquire for Specialist Mortgage Advice in Hull by getting in touch with us today. We’ll advise as best as we can, to further you through your mortgage journey.

Date Last Edited: 09/28/2023