Lender reviews look intimidating from the outside, but the document expectation is relatively predictable. What varies is how cleanly the borrower can produce evidence when asked. A first call that ends with “send us the schedules and we’ll come back” often becomes a three-week round trip. The same call, with a pre-built evidence pack, usually ends with a clear next step.
This is not advice on whether to borrow, on the merits of any product, or on a lender decision. It is a checklist of the documents that a typical commercial lender review will request, organised so the borrower can present them confidently.
01Identity and existence
- Certificate of Incorporation, MOA and AOA.
- PAN, GSTIN and any sector-specific registrations.
- Current shareholding pattern and a simple group/holding structure diagram.
- Authorised signatory list and board resolutions for borrowing powers.
02Financial position
- Audited financial statements for the last three financial years.
- Provisional or management accounts for the current year, signed by the CFO or equivalent.
- Latest GST returns and income tax returns.
- Bank statements for all operating accounts (typically 12 months).
- Existing facility schedule: lender, sanctioned limit, outstanding, security, status.
03Cash flow and working capital
- Debtors and creditors ageing, with a brief note on top exposures.
- Inventory schedule, where relevant, with valuation basis.
- 12-month rolling cash flow projection with assumptions documented separately.
- Capex plan for the period covered by the proposed facility.
04Operating evidence
- Top customers and suppliers with concentration percentages and contract status.
- Order book or pipeline summary, with the basis for each line.
- Premises documents: ownership or lease, with renewal dates.
- Insurance schedule, with sums insured and renewal dates.
05Governance and KYC
- Director KYC: PAN, Aadhaar (as accepted), recent passport-size photographs.
- Beneficial ownership declaration, consistent with MCA filings.
- Latest MCA annual return and financial statement filing acknowledgements.
- Recent statutory dues status: GST, TDS, PF and ESI.
Build one folder per category above. Add a one-page index at the top of the pack that lists each document, its date and the person to contact for follow-up. Keep a short “story” document — three pages, plain English — that walks a reviewer through what the business does, how it earns money, and what the facility is for. Lenders consistently report that a short narrative reduces clarifying questions far more than a thicker pack.
SOFTRE’s ShieldScore readiness indicator is designed to flag missing items in the list above before the lender conversation, not to replace the lender’s own underwriting. Use it as a self-check; let the lender form its own view.
Advisory note. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, investment, credit or regulatory advice. SOFTRE is not a credit rating agency, financial institution, lender, or broker.