Neobanking, lending and insurtech
Progcap Underwriting Analyst Interview: Rounds, Questions and Preparation
For Underwriting Analyst roles at companies like Progcap
What the job involves
An Underwriting Analyst at a neobanking or lending fintech assesses creditworthiness of small businesses and individuals using digital data sources like GST, bank statements, and e-commerce transactions. Day to day involves reviewing loan applications, building risk models, and working with product and collections teams to balance growth with portfolio quality. In insurtech, similar roles evaluate risk for embedded insurance products.
Role and Technical Knowledge
- 1
What are the key differences between traditional underwriting and digital underwriting in neobanking?
Highlight use of alternative data like GST, bank statements, and mobile data; faster turnaround; and automated decisioning.
- 2
How would you assess the creditworthiness of a small business that has no formal financial statements?
Focus on cash flow analysis from bank statements, GST returns, and digital payment history; also consider industry and vintage.
- 3
What are the RBI guidelines that impact digital lending in India?
Mention key points like data localization, consent requirements, and fair practices code; show awareness of recent updates.
- 4
Explain the concept of risk-based pricing and how it applies to lending products.
Define risk-based pricing, link it to interest rates based on borrower risk profile, and mention how it helps balance portfolio risk.
Practical Scenarios
- 5
A borrower's GST returns show declining sales but bank statements show consistent inflows. How would you proceed?
Investigate discrepancies, check for other income sources, and consider if inflows are from unrelated transactions; may request additional documents.
- 6
You need to underwrite a loan for a restaurant with high seasonality. What factors would you consider?
Analyze historical cash flows across seasons, assess ability to service debt during lean periods, and consider industry benchmarks.
- 7
If a loan application is rejected by the automated system but you see potential, what steps would you take?
Review the rejection reasons, manually verify data, and if justified, escalate with additional analysis for override approval.
- 8
How would you handle a situation where a borrower provides incomplete documents?
Communicate clearly what is needed, set a deadline, and follow up; if not provided, proceed with available data or reject based on policy.
Behavioural and Situational
- 9
Tell me about a time you had to make a decision with incomplete information.
Use STAR method, emphasize how you gathered available data, assessed risks, and made a reasoned choice.
- 10
Describe a situation where you had to convince someone to change their approach.
Show empathy, data-driven arguments, and positive outcome; highlight communication and persistence.
- 11
How do you handle pressure when multiple loan applications are pending and deadlines are tight?
Discuss prioritization, time management, and maintaining accuracy under pressure; give an example.
- 12
Give an example of a time you worked in a team to achieve a goal.
Highlight collaboration, your specific role, and how the team succeeded; show adaptability.
HR and Company Fit
- 13
Why do you want to work in underwriting at a neobanking or lending fintech?
Connect personal interest in risk and finance with the dynamic nature of fintech; mention desire to learn and grow.
- 14
What do you know about our company and how it differentiates itself in the market?
Research the company's products, target segment, and recent news; highlight unique value proposition like faster loans or embedded finance.
- 15
Where do you see yourself in five years in this sector?
Show ambition to deepen expertise in credit risk, possibly moving into senior underwriting or risk analytics roles.
- 16
How do you stay updated with changes in lending regulations and fintech trends?
Mention following RBI circulars, fintech news sites, and online courses; show proactive learning.
Ready to try it for real?
Take a timed test or talk through a mock interview for this role, then see your scores.
This is practice material for Underwriting Analyst roles, written with AI. It is not a list of questions Progcap or any other company has asked.