Countrywide Loan-Underwriting Expert System

Loan underwriting is the process of evaluating a loan application to determine whether the loan should be funded. The process often starts with a potential borrower walking into a branch office and requesting a loan to purchase or refinance a home. A processor asks the borrower to fill out an application, setting in motion a lengthy information-gathering process in which as many as 1500 data-element pieces will eventually be collected. This loan information includes items about the borrower's employment, income, assets, liabilities, and monthly expenses. During the process, a credit report and appraisal will be ordered from a third-party vendor.