Examiners collect two primary types of data throughout an examination: qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative data is information gathered that is more descriptive in nature, typically not based on numbers, and therefore not measurable. Sometimes qualitative data can be gathered, categorized, coded, and turned into quantitative data. Quantitative data is information dealing with numbers that can be measured and calculated.
Qualitative Data
Examiners obtain qualitative data by observation (for example, reading minutes, policies, recent correspondence, prior exam reports including scope comments, and watching staff perform duties) and through discussions with officials and employees. In addition, examiners must review loan files, and may find valuable information in investment files.
Qualitative data may also be gathered by reviewing prior exam reports, including the Examination Overview, which summarizes a credit union’s overall condition in narrative form, and examination workpapers (for example, Key Ratios, Financial History, and Reasonableness Ratios).
Quantitative Data
Data submitted by credit unions through the Call Report is available in the examination software, including the financial history and key ratios. Examiners collect this data by requesting a historical download for the credit union. Examiners also collect data by requesting the share and loan download from the credit union. The credit union either performs this download themselves or obtains the download from their core processor.
The financial history, which is key to TAP, consolidates data provided by the credit union. This data is used to compute the ratios in the examination software. For additional financial history data, examiners may collect and analyze data using alternative analysis tools like the FPR or optional workpapers, such as:
- Risk Reports
- Concentration Trends
- Reasonableness Ratios
- Two-Minute Profitability Test
Last updated October 14, 2021
