Do the underwriters work weekends?

Celes

Just curious if they ever do weekend shifts if they have backlogs?

Generally curious about the perspective of underwriters, so much mystique about their role ..

ACG

Depends on the lender and the backlog.

Some lenders let their staff work from home and I have had mortgage offers issued at 11pm and 3am before now.

I think lenders are beginning to cotton on to the fact that underwriters need to be a little more accountable when declining cases. Historically they could decline a case and never have to speak to you to justify it which was very annoying. I have spoken to more underwriters in the last 2 years than I have in the previous 5-6 years of being a broker.

In the main underwriters are fine and normal people. I remember when I used to work for a bank and there were 5 underwriters, you always knew if one particular lady got your case it was either being declined or you were going to have to work for it - I hated her, I always imagined she sat there at night thinking of things she could ask for or ways she could decline applications.

[Deleted User]

(As usual!) I agree with ACG.

I know where I work, even for internal departments it used to be a right effort to talk to Underwriters.

A lot of lenders are now making a real effort to make Underwriters more accessible and a lot seem to be adopting the "one Underwriter throughout" approach for more 'complex' cases or large loans, new builds etc. where it really adds value.

Depends on the company, I'd say there's a good chance of Underwriters working Saturday even at the smallest lenders.

TiberUK

I was approved on a Saturday morning, but I imagine it varies by bank

Celes

Thanks both, fascinating insight.