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ABA: The American Bankers Association
Industry News

Healthy Financials, Hidden Risk: Look Beyond the Balance Sheet

Sometimes, even the most diligent financial analysis can’t uncover the full picture. That’s because many risks often live outside the borrower’s balance sheet: in the market dynamics, supply chains, labor conditions and regulations that define their industry.

When you get a product price wrong, you fix it the next day. But when you misjudge a credit decision, the consequences can last six years or more. With time pressure mounting, and internal stakeholders relying on your assessment, there’s no room for gut feeling alone. You need credible, industry-specific insight to back your judgement and spot red flags early.

IBISWorld

IBISWorld provides banks the largest database of industry insights and risk ratings. Through a database of over 1,400 customer industries they can identify the best types of companies to target for business banking and lending, and prepare their sales people for customer meetings with relevant industry questions and trends. On the Credit side, IBISWorld helps underwriters benchmark customer financials against industry averages and better price loans, so from Marketing to Portfolio Management, an institution can win the right business with mitigated risk.