What does a lender asking for a letter of explanation mean?

Asked by: Jena Bednar V  |  Last update: November 17, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (53 votes)

A letter of explanation is simply a tool that helps your lender's team understand your financial situation more fully. Giving exactly the information they request with the appropriate level of detail helps the team reviewing your application truly understand your financial picture.

What is the meaning of explanation letter?

An explanation letter at work is a formal printed letter or email written to explain something that occurred, to answer an inquiry or provide missing information. Clients, contractors, team members or students may write this type of letter to provide information and inform other individuals about situations.

What is a letter of explanation for a late payment?

As its name indicates, a late payment letter of explanation is a letter that accounts for the circumstances surrounding any delinquent or tardy repayments of loan installments or credit card bills.

What is a letter of explanation for a house?

A letter of explanation may provide the extra documentation needed to: Clear up any discrepancies on your credit report, like late payments or cosigned loans. Verify the dates of major credit issues like bankruptcies or foreclosures. Help an underwriter understand how you earn money or why your income changed.

What is a letter of explanation for a large deposit?

Letter of Explanation (LOE): Large Deposits. For purchase loans, Blend identifies any large deposits in a borrower's connected asset statement(s). For each large deposit, Blend then generates a follow-up request that enables the borrower to explain the deposit.

What to include in a letter of Explanation to a lender

34 related questions found

Why do underwriters ask for letters of explanation?

Why might a mortgage lender ask for a letter of explanation? Mortgage lenders may require letters of explanation for certain application-related requirements or to further understand areas of the application that may not be apparent. These areas typically have to do with income, employment or credit.

Why do lenders care about large deposits?

Why Do Lenders Care About Large Deposits? Deposits like your salary checks are fine because they are regular credits and can easily be explained but any unusual large deposits needs to be explained and lenders will want proof of its source.

What is the purpose of letter of explanation?

A Letter of Explanation (LOE) is a document future homebuyers write to explain any concerning aspects of their financial history to lenders, such as gaps in employment or bank transactions.

How to write a letter explaining bad credit?

Provide a clear and concise explanation of the circumstances that led to your bad credit. For example, did you lose your job or experience a significant medical expense? Providing this context can help the employer understand why your credit history looks the way it does.

What is a good explanation for late payments?

When explaining a delay in payment, honesty and transparency are key. Begin by acknowledging the missed deadline and express your commitment to resolving the situation. Clearly state the reason for the delay, whether it's a financial discrepancy, processing error, or unforeseen circumstances.

What is a letter of explanation for derogatory credit?

What Is A Letter Of Explanation? A letter of explanation is a brief document you can use to explain something, like a previous bankruptcy, in your financial or employment history that might give an underwriter pause about your ability to repay a loan.

How do you convince a creditor to remove late payments?

Ask the lender to remove it with a goodwill letter

In some cases, creditors are willing to make a goodwill adjustment if your payment history has been good or if you have a good relationship with them. The process is easy: simply write a letter to your creditor explaining why you paid late.

How do I end a letter of explanation?

How to End a Letter: 12 Useful Farewell Phrases
  1. Sincerely. Sincerely (or sincerely yours) is often the go-to sign off for formal letters, and with good reason. ...
  2. Best. ...
  3. Best regards. ...
  4. Speak to you soon. ...
  5. Thanks. ...
  6. [No sign-off] ...
  7. Yours truly. ...
  8. Take care.

What is the purpose of an explanation?

An explanation is a rationale in which the reason presents a cause of some fact represented by the conclusion. Its purpose is to help us understand how or why that fact occurs.

How do you respond to a letter of explanation?

Dear [Name], Thank you for your letter explaining the reasons for not achieving the [target/goal] set for [period]. I appreciate your candor and willingness to address the challenges faced. After reviewing your explanation, I understand that [briefly acknowledge the circumstances].

Is letter of explanation necessary?

Letter of explanation

You should include this letter if you decide to apply for a study permit, even if you don't have to get a study permit for your program.

What's the best explanation of a letter of credit?

A Letter of Credit is a contractual commitment by the foreign buyer's bank to pay once the exporter ships the goods and presents the required documentation to the exporter's bank as proof. As a trade finance tool, Letters of Credit are designed to protect both exporters and importers.

What is a bad mark on your credit called?

Derogatory marks on credit reports are negative items like missed payments, bankruptcies or foreclosures. Late or missed payments are typically reported to the credit bureaus when they're at least 30 days past due. And the later they are, the more damage they can do to your credit.

How do I write a late payment explanation letter?

How to write a late payment letter
  1. your company name and address.
  2. recipient's name and address.
  3. today's date.
  4. a clear reference and/or any account reference numbers.
  5. the amount outstanding.
  6. original payment due date.
  7. a brief explanation that no payment has been received.

What is a letter of intent for a mortgage lender?

This formally sets in motion the mortgage approval process and acts as a starting point for the lender to begin its due diligence on the property. In this context, the LOI might include the address of the new property, the amount you intend to finance, and the names of all borrowers requesting the loan.

Is letter of explanation the same as statement of purpose?

Letter of Explanation (LoE) is a document addressing specific concerns or providing additional information requested by immigration authorities. Statement of Purpose (SOP) is a personal statement outlining an applicant's academic and career goals, motivations, and suitability for the chosen program.

How to answer a notice to explain?

Employee's Response to a Notice to Explain

The response should include: A detailed explanation of the incident from the employee's perspective; Any evidence or documentation supporting their side; An expression of willingness to cooperate in any investigation or hearing.

Is depositing 3,000 cash suspicious?

You can deposit up to $10,000 cash before reporting it to the IRS. Lump sum or incremental deposits of more than $10,000 must be reported. Banks must report cash deposits of more than $10,000. Banks may also choose to report suspicious transactions like frequent large cash deposits.

How far back do lenders look at bank statements?

How far back do lenders look at bank statements? Mortgage lenders typically seek two months of recent bank statements during your home loan application process. You need to provide bank statements for any accounts holding funds you'll use to qualify for the loan, including money market, checking, and savings accounts.

What amount is considered a large deposit?

Business Owners Must Also Report Large Deposits

The deposit of U.S. or foreign currency or coins of more than $10,000, as well the deposit of a cashier's check, bank draft, traveler's check, or money order with a face value of more than $10,000.