#bank statement analysis

[novelpatterns]

RBI’s New 15-Day Credit Reporting Rule: A Game-Changer for Borrowers and Lenders

India’s financial landscape is witnessing a pivotal transformation with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introducing a new mandate on credit reporting. Effective January 1, 2025, all lenders must update borrowers’ credit information with credit bureaus every 15 days instead of the current monthly reporting system. While this change seems procedural, its implications are far-reaching, impacting borrowers, lenders, and the entire credit underwriting process.

This blog explores the rationale behind the new rule, its implications for borrowers and lenders, the role of bank statement analysis and advanced tools in credit underwriting, and how it reshapes the financial ecosystem.

What’s Changing?

The new RBI directive reduces the credit reporting cycle to 15 days, requiring lenders - banks, NBFCs, and other financial institutions - to update borrowers’ repayment history, defaults, and other credit activities more frequently. This shift brings India closer to global best practices in credit reporting, ensuring that creditworthiness is evaluated based on the most current data.

Borrowers with timely repayments will benefit from faster improvements in their credit scores, while delays or defaults will now reflect on reports much sooner, influencing future loan prospects.

The Rationale Behind the New Rule

The RBI’s move addresses several key challenges in India’s lending ecosystem:

Accurate Credit Underwriting: Credit underwriting - the process by which lenders assess a borrower’s risk—relies heavily on up-to-date credit reports and bank statement analysis. The 15-day reporting rule ensures lenders access more recent financial data, enabling them to make informed decisions and minimize risks associated with outdated credit information.

Curbing Over-Leveraging: Borrowers sometimes exploit the lag in credit reporting to secure multiple loans from different institutions. With faster updates, lenders can identify over-leveraged borrowers earlier, preventing unsustainable debt accumulation.

Promoting Responsible Borrowing: A shorter reporting cycle encourages financial discipline among borrowers. Timely repayments are rewarded with faster improvements in credit scores, while defaults are penalized swiftly, discouraging risky financial behavior.

Mitigating ‘Evergreening’ of Loans: Faster credit updates allow lenders to detect borrowers taking out new loans to repay existing ones—an unsustainable practice known as loan ‘evergreening.’ Early identification of such patterns can prevent potential defaults.

Impact on Borrowers

For borrowers, the new rule offers both benefits and challenges:

Opportunities for Borrowers

Faster Credit Score Improvements: Borrowers making timely payments will see their credit scores improve more quickly, making them eligible for better loan terms, such as lower interest rates and higher limits.

Transparency in Financial Health: With frequent updates, borrowers gain a clearer picture of their financial standing, empowering them to make informed decisions.

Reward for Discipline: The system incentivizes disciplined borrowing and repayment habits, as the benefits are reflected more promptly in credit scores.

Challenges for Borrowers

Reduced Time to Rectify Errors: Defaults or missed payments will now be reflected in credit reports faster, leaving borrowers with less time to address issues before lenders take action.

Increased Scrutiny: Borrowers with high credit utilization or irregular payment histories will face tighter evaluations during bank statement analysis and other assessment processes.

Pressure to Maintain Financial Stability: The new system places greater responsibility on borrowers to balance their financial obligations, as any lapses will have immediate repercussions.

Impact on Lenders

Lenders stand to gain significantly from the new credit reporting norms, particularly in terms of improved risk assessment and portfolio quality.

Benefits for Lenders

Enhanced Credit Underwriting: Access to real-time credit data and detailed bank statement analysis enables lenders to refine their credit underwriting processes, resulting in more accurate risk assessments.

Early Detection of Risk: The shorter reporting cycle helps lenders identify red flags, such as over-leveraging or signs of financial distress, at an earlier stage.

Healthier Loan Portfolios: Lenders can maintain a healthier loan portfolio by preventing over-lending and reducing default rates, minimizing the risk of non-performing assets (NPAs).

Challenges for Lenders

Operational Adjustments: Implementing the new rule requires significant investment in technology and process upgrades to ensure timely and accurate reporting.

Increased Responsibility in Monitoring: With more frequent updates, lenders must closely monitor borrower behavior and act swiftly in case of defaults or other issues.

Role of Bank Statement Analysis in the New Era

Bank statement analysis will play a crucial role in adapting to the new reporting system. By reviewing borrowers’ transaction histories, spending patterns, and cash flow, lenders can gain deeper insights into their financial behavior.

For instance:

Identifying Risky Borrowing: Patterns of frequent loan applications or high credit utilization can signal potential over-leveraging.

Evaluating Repayment Capacity: Consistent inflows and prudent spending habits indicate a borrower’s ability to manage loan obligations.

Detecting Warning Signs: Irregular payments or insufficient balances can serve as early indicators of financial distress.

With advanced analytics tools, lenders can automate bank statement analysis, making the process faster and more accurate.

Statistical Insights: The Growing Importance of Credit Reporting

To understand the broader impact of this change, consider the following data:

Credit Demand on the Rise: As of March 2023, personal loans accounted for 28% of the total retail lending portfolio, with an annual growth rate of over 20%. This highlights the importance of accurate credit reporting in managing India’s growing credit demand. (Source: TransUnion CIBIL)

Credit Utilization Trends: Credit card usage has seen a sharp rise, with transactions crossing ₹1.5 trillion monthly as of December 2022. The new rule will ensure timely reflection of credit utilization, which is a key factor in credit scoring. (Source: RBI Reports)

NPA Challenges: Non-performing assets (NPAs) in India’s banking sector stood at ₹5.94 trillion in March 2023. The new framework aims to reduce this burden by enabling better risk management. (Source: Financial Express)

How Borrowers Can Prepare

Borrowers must adopt proactive strategies to adapt to the new rules:

Automate EMI Payments: Ensure timely repayments by setting up automatic payments for loans and credit cards.

Monitor Credit Scores Regularly: Use tools to track changes in your credit score and address issues promptly.

Practice Responsible Borrowing: Avoid taking multiple loans or exceeding your repayment capacity to maintain a healthy financial profile.

Maintain Low Credit Utilization: Keep your credit utilization ratio below 30% to avoid negative impacts on your score.

How Lenders Can Leverage the Change

Lenders can harness the new framework to strengthen their processes:

Upgrade Technology: Invest in systems that enable seamless credit reporting and bank statement analysis.

Enhance Credit Underwriting: Use advanced analytics and machine learning tools to improve risk assessment and decision-making.

Educate Borrowers: Create awareness about the new rules and encourage borrowers to adopt responsible financial habits.

Rewind-Up: A Transformative Shift

The RBI’s 15-day credit reporting rule marks a significant step towards creating a more transparent, efficient, and responsible lending environment. By ensuring that credit reports reflect real-time financial behavior, this change benefits both borrowers and lenders, fostering trust and stability in the financial system.

As India’s credit ecosystem evolves, the integration of tools like bank statement analysis and advancements in credit underwriting will play a pivotal role in adapting to this new era. For borrowers, the message is clear: financial discipline and timely repayment are more important than ever. For lenders, this is an opportunity to strengthen risk management and drive sustainable growth.

By embracing these changes, India’s financial sector is poised to achieve greater resilience and inclusivity, paving the way for a healthier economic future.

[scoremeijiu98]

Understanding Bank Statement Analysis: A Comprehensive Guide

Bank statement analysis is an essential practice in both personal and professional finance management. It involves reviewing and interpreting the information in bank statements to understand financial health, track expenses, and identify trends. In this blog, we will explore what bank statement analysis entails, its importance, and how to perform it effectively.

What is Bank Statement Analysis?

Bank statement analysis is the process of examining the details of bank statements to gain insights into financial transactions over a specific period. Bank statements typically include information such as deposits, withdrawals, transfers, fees, and the opening and closing balances for the account. Analyzing this information helps individuals and businesses make informed financial decisions.

Importance of Bank Statement Analysis

1. Financial Health Assessment

Regular analysis of bank statements allows individuals and businesses to assess their financial health. By understanding income, expenses, and cash flow, one can make better financial decisions and plan for the future.

2. Expense Tracking

Bank statement analysis helps in tracking expenses and identifying spending patterns. This understanding can lead to better budgeting and financial planning.

3. Fraud Detection

Regularly reviewing bank statements can help detect unauthorized transactions and potential fraud. Early detection is crucial in preventing significant financial losses.

4. Loan Applications

Lenders often require bank statements for loan applications. A thorough analysis of bank statements can ensure that all transactions are accurately recorded and presented, improving the chances of loan approval.

5. Tax Preparation

Analyzing bank statements can simplify tax preparation by providing a clear record of all financial transactions. This can be particularly helpful for identifying deductible expenses and ensuring compliance with tax regulations.

How to Perform Bank Statement Analysis

1. Gather Bank Statements

The first step in bank statement analysis is to gather all relevant bank statements for the period you want to analyze. This could be monthly, quarterly, or annually, depending on your needs.

2. Categorize Transactions

Next, categorize all transactions into different groups, such as income, expenses, savings, and investments. This helps in understanding the distribution of funds and identifying spending patterns.

3. Identify Regular Income and Expenses

Identify regular income sources, such as salary, business income, or investment returns, and regular expenses, such as rent, utilities, and groceries. This helps in understanding the fixed components of your financial situation.

4. Analyze Cash Flow

Analyzing cash flow involves looking at the inflow and outflow of money. This helps in understanding how money is being managed and identifying areas where cash flow can be improved.

5. Look for Trends and Anomalies

Identify any trends or patterns in your financial transactions. Look for anomalies, such as unexpected charges or significant changes in spending patterns, which may require further investigation.

6. Use Financial Tools

There are various financial tools and software available that can assist in bank statement analysis. These tools can automate the process, provide visual representations of data, and offer insights that may not be immediately apparent.

Tips for Effective Bank Statement Analysis

1. Regular Review

Perform bank statement analysis regularly to stay on top of your financial situation. Monthly reviews are recommended for most individuals and businesses.

2. Keep Records

Maintain organized records of your bank statements and analysis reports. This can be useful for future reference and for preparing financial statements or tax returns.

3. Seek Professional Help

If you are unsure about how to perform bank statement analysis or need detailed insights, consider seeking help from a financial advisor or accountant.

4. Use Technology

Leverage technology and financial software to streamline the analysis process. Many tools can automate transaction categorization, generate reports, and provide actionable insights.

Conclusion

Bank statement analysis is a powerful tool for managing personal and business finances. By regularly reviewing and analyzing bank statements, you can gain valuable insights into your financial health, track expenses, detect fraud, and make informed financial decisions. With the right approach and tools, bank statement analysis can become an integral part of your financial management strategy.

[alinathinkstoomuch]

1-800-CALL ME, FAKE FIANCÉ

pairing: aaron hotchner x reader summary: (part of my mini fake-fiancé series) the fbi agent you met at the bar helped you out of a jam so you decide to pay him a visit at work. warnings | a/n: unhinged reader, rossi being a lil instigator, reader has no shame in her game at ALL & makes the first move, the usual banter & chem, channelling all the rom-com feels word count: 3.3k

✧ masterlist | first part can be found here | third part can be found here

It had been a week since your little fake fiancé fiasco, and while it had been enough to satisfy your mob group of fake friends and stop them from asking questions, it wasn’t enough to satisfy your questions.

Because now, you were curious – dangerously so.

You couldn’t concentrate on much else. It was ridiculous. Absurd. Completely unnecessary. And yet…

You had googled him.

You had googled Aaron Hotchner.

And oh boy did you find things.

FBI Unit Chief Aaron Hotchner. Head of some ultra-serious-sounding department in behavioural analysis. There were articles. Court cases. Mentions of serial killers – plural. You even found a grainy news clip of him giving a statement outside a police station, looking all important and broody.

And as if that wasn’t enough, there were forums. Entire internet threads dedicated to the man. Debates on how often he smiled. Speculation on his past. A truly unhinged corner of the internet where a small but passionate group of people seemed convinced he had once been a male model.

You may or may not have spent a questionable amount of time scrolling through that last one.

But none of this answered the real question: why did an FBI Unit Chief go along with your ridiculous fake fiancé charade without hesitation? That was not normal federal agent behaviour. You were pretty sure actual government employees had policies against indulging unhinged strangers.

Which led you here. More specifically in the FBI headquarters parking lot.

Okay, you were actually insane. But you had good intentions. Intentions of thanking him properly for the night of madness he had endured.

So, you had baked him cookies. Because, according to your mother, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach – which was a wildly inappropriate saying to be applying to an FBI agent, but here you were.

You took a deep breath, staring up at the intimidating glass doors, clutching your box of cookies like it was a ticking time bomb. This was fine. Completely normal. People brought cookies to law enforcement all the time… right?

Swallowing your nerves, you marched inside, heels clicking against the polished floor as you approached the receptionist’s desk. The woman behind the counter barely glanced up as she typed away at her computer.

“Hi! Uh, could you do me a favour and give these to an Aaron Hotchner?” you asked, setting the box down with a nervous smile. “He’s, um, Unit Chief of something very official and serious, which I’m sure you already know, but I just wanted to thank him because he helped me out of a situation – not like a legal situation, nothing weird, I’m not a criminal or anything – oh my God, that sounded suspicious –”

The receptionist finally looked up, blinking slowly. “Ma’am?”

You let out an awkward laugh, waving a hand. “I mean, technically, everyone is a criminal in some way, right? Like, who hasn’t jaywalked or taken a pen from a bank? Oh my God, I’m not confessing to anything, I just –”

“Ma’am,” the receptionist interrupted, her voice flat. “Are you delivering something, or…?”

“Wow, you guys are really strict on the whole professionalism thing, huh?” You huffed, then quickly corrected yourself. “Not that I’m not professional. I can be professional. I wore a blazer once.” You paused, glancing at her name badge. “Clarissa! I am delivering cookies. They are divine, you can have one if you’d like?”

Clarissa squinted at you, clearly debating whether or not to press a panic button – one that, realistically, would probably result in you being swarmed by tactical agents in full riot gear.

Was that even the FBI? Or was that, like… SWAT? Was SWAT part of the FBI? Were you about to go down for cookie-related crimes?

“Are you cleared to be here?” she asked.

“Depends on your definition of cleared –”

“Alright, sweetheart, let’s take a breath before you actually incriminate yourself.”

You spun around to find none other than David – if you recalled correctly – standing behind you, looking just as entertained as he did back at the jazz bar, his eyes bouncing between the cookies and you. “Well, well. If it isn’t Hotch’s fiancée.”

“Not his fiancée anymore!”

“Sure. And I’m not Italian.”

You shook your head, exhaling dramatically. “I just made him some cookies as a thank you. Do you mind passing them on to him, please? And then I can get out of yours and Clarissa’s hair. You have fabulous hair, both of you, by the way.”

Clarissa stared at you like you were personally responsible for every inconvenience that had ever befallen her. Rossi, on the other hand, grinned like you had just made his entire day.

“You know what? No,” he said, shaking his head. “You should give them to him yourself.”

Your stomach dropped. “Oh, no, that’s not necessary –”

“I insist.”

Clarissa folded her arms. “She’s not authorised to be here.”

Rossi rolled his eyes. “Clarissa, I’ve worked in this building longer than some agents have been alive. If I say she’s authorised, she’s authorised.”

Clarissa let out a long-suffering sigh but didn’t argue further.

“Come on, sweetheart. Let’s go surprise Hotch.”

You let out a weak laugh. “Oh. Yay.”

Rossi led you through security and about four different hallways before you found yourself in an elevator. You barely had time to process what was happening before you were stepping into a bullpen that made your brain go fuzzy. There were far too many people in suits, all looking intimidatingly competent.

A woman with blonde hair and a bright cardigan – finally someone who understood the power of colour – shot you an intrigued glance over the top of her glasses.

“I really don’t think this is necessary, David,” you whispered. “You guys look like busy, busy people, and I just wanted to bring some cookies. I don’t think Hotch will appreciate being called out of his very legitimate FBI career just for me.”

“Oh, I know he won’t.”

“Okay, now you’re making me panic, and I have a habit of jumping to conclusions when I’m under a lot of stress. Please, really, it’s no big deal –”

“Yeah, Hotch mentioned something along those lines,” Rossi hummed as the two of you came to a halt in front of a door, to which he knocked before stepping inside.

You followed hesitantly, barely making it over the threshold before you locked eyes with Hotch, who was standing behind his desk, looking very confused.

Rossi gestured at you grandly. “Look who I found wandering the FBI headquarters.”

“Okay, that makes me sound like a stalker and – wow, okay, I guess maybe I am a stalker, but the good kind, I promise! I come in peace. And with cookies… as a thank you.”

“I’ll leave you two lovebirds to it,” Rossi grinned, giving you a nudge as he sauntered out, shutting the door behind him with far too much enthusiasm.

Hotch, still staring at you like you had just crash-landed into his office from another dimension, slowly folded his arms. “Should I be concerned?”

“Not until you try one of these,” you said, flipping open the lid of the cookie box, only for your smile to falter the second you actually registered what was inside.

Heart-shaped cookies. Pink frosting. Extra sprinkles.

Oh no.

You stared at them. Then at Hotch. Then back at them.

He was still staring too, looking at the cookies like they were an active FBI case file he wasn’t quite sure how to classify.

You let out half a laugh. “Oh. Oh, boy.”

Hotch raised a brow, arms still crossed, looking every bit the intimidating federal agent he was.

“Okay, I know what this looks like,” you groaned, snapping the box shut like that would somehow undo the visual catastrophe. “I got slightly carried away – as I tend to – and my mind just kind of… took its own course when I was making them. I wasn’t thinking about you – well, I was thinking about you, but not like that, I swear. I just – ugh – I put a little bit myself into them.”

Hotch tilted his head. “Yourself?”

You nodded, slowly reopening the box as if the cookies might suddenly jump out and throw up edible glitter all over his office. “You know… they’re kind of chaotic but well-intentioned, possibly too much but ultimately harmless –”

“How did you find me here?”

“Oh. That.”

He just stared at you.

You cleared your throat, suddenly very interested in the cookie box. “Well, it’s not that hard, you know? I have a great memory, and I did get a pretty solid look at your badge – after I thought you were going to murder me, of course – so I just… searched you up.”

His brows lifted.

You panicked. “But only to figure out where you work so I could bring you cookies! That’s it! I had every intention of leaving them with Clarissa but your friend David saw me and said I should bring them up myself. And well… now I’m here.”

Hotch’s hand pinched the bridge of his nose. “Of course he did.”

You rocked on your heels, watching him carefully. “Sooo… does this mean I’m officially on an FBI watchlist, or is that, like, a separate process?”

Hotch exhaled, lowering his hand. “You’re not on a watchlist.”

“Oh.”

His brows furrowed. “Would you like to be?”

“I feel like I shouldn’t answer that without a lawyer present,” you mumbled, setting the cookies down on his desk.

“So, let me get this straight. You looked me up, managed to talk your way into a federal building without authorisation all just to bring me heart-shaped cookies?”

You lifted a finger. “Okay, first of all, let’s not make this sound like an obsession – I googled you. That’s a normal thing people do! It’s called being informed. And second, the hearts were an accident. I only had one cookie cutter. You think I wanted to show up here looking like some lovesick lunatic?”

Hotch glanced at the cookies, then back at you. “…Yes.”

“Okay, well, this has been fun,” you said, dusting your hands before adjusting your jacket. “Enjoy the cookies, and thanks again for the other night,” you continued, already backing toward the door. “I have not had my name mentioned once in the Veronica Posse group chat since, and for the first time in years, I have actually known peace.”

“Wait,” he called just as you reached for the door handle. You spun around to face him. “Why did you really come here?”

You paused before speaking.

“I need a fiancé again,” you blurted out before you could stop yourself. “Yup. Need one again, preferably the same one, but this time it’s my parents hounding me, and they’ve already arranged a dinner and everything.”

Hotch opened his mouth, then closed it. A second passed. Then another. Finally – “You’re joking, aren’t you?”

“I am,” you beamed, completely unbothered by the scowl on his face. Hotch looked like he was about to reply, but his phone began ringing. He glanced down at it on the desk.

“Alright, really leaving now. I’ll let you get back to all this serious business,” you said, but then a realization dawned, making you pause.

Hotch looked back up, brows raising slightly. “What is it?”

You shifted, glancing toward the door, then back at him. “So, funny thing… I don’t actually know how to get out of here.”

Hotch sighed, shaking his head as he pressed a button to silence his phone before slipping it into his suit jacket. “I’ll walk you out.”

“Oh, no need,” you replied quickly, waving him off. “I’ll just ask David – he loves helping me.”

Hotch gave you a flat look. “Absolutely not.”

You blinked innocently. “Why? He was so excited to see me earlier. You should have heard him, all like Oh, if it isn’t Hotch’s fiancée! He really sells it.”

“That’s exactly why,” Hotch muttered, already moving toward the door.

You followed Hotch out of his office, barely managing to keep up with his long strides. “Wow, you walk fast,” you huffed, adjusting your purse on your shoulder. “Is this an FBI thing? Do you all just power walk everywhere?”

He slowed his pace ever so slightly so you could catch up. As you glanced around, you noticed several pairs of eyes discreetly watching the two of you – one of them being David who had zero shame in making his interest known. You offered him a small wave to which he responded with a not-so-subtle wink. When your eyes landed on Hotch he was watching the exchange.

“Keep walking.”

“I am,” you whispered back, trying not to laugh. “I just happen to also be social.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

You gasped, doing a light two step jog to catch up. “Gosh, what happened to ‘Marry me, sweetheart?’”

“You called it nonsense, remember?”

“I did,” you admitted. “But that was after you said something that was incredibly true about me.”

Hotch threw you a curious glance. “And what was that?”

“That I’m too good to consider that group of women my friends, especially ones I feel the need to impress.”

Hotch didn’t say anything right away, just reached for the door, pushing it open and holding it for you. As you stepped past him, you caught the smallest trace of something in his expression, something very close to approval.

Stepping into the hallway, you glanced around, already feeling disoriented. “This place is like a maze,” you muttered, spinning in a small circle before looking back at him. “How do you manage to not get lost here?”

“Spatial awareness.”

Before you could question him further, you felt his hands on your arms, gently guiding you to the left just as you were about to head right.

“Oh. Wow. Okay.”

His lips twitched. “You were about to walk into a closet.”

You glanced back at the door you had almost pushed open. “That’s not a closet. That’s –” You squinted at the sign. “Okay, that’s definitely a closet.” You sighed dramatically, walking ahead this time – making sure to pretend like you totally knew where you were going. “See? This is why I need a fake fiancé. Navigation assistance.”

His voice followed you, dry as ever. “That’s what Google Maps is for.”

You turned, walking backwards now, arms crossed. “Yeah, well, Google Maps doesn’t have your spatial awareness, does it?”

“You’d rather rely on me for directions?”

You stopped walking, tilting your head. “Huh. Good point. Maybe I should just take my chances with the closet.”

Hotch sighed, stepping past you. “Come on. I’ll make sure you get out of here without accidentally locking yourself in a supply room.”

You grinned, following him. “See? Fake fiancé duties are still active.”

This time, you definitely didn’t miss the half-smile he tried to hide.

After what felt like literal hours of navigating the endless, identical floors and hallways of the FBI, the two of you finally stepped outside. Freedom at last, you thought, basking in the sight of the actual sun – something you’d only glimpsed through windows you were convinced had some kind of tint designed to make the inside of the building feel even duller.

“Do you know where you parked?”

You scoffed, waving a dismissive hand. “Uh, duh. What do you take me for?”

Hotch just looked at you.

You blinked.

Then, very slowly, you turned your head, scanning the parking lot.

Oh, no.

Where did you park?

You wracked your brain, desperately trying to retrace your steps, but the problem was… you hadn’t exactly been focused when you arrived. You had just parked somewhere and hoped for the best. But now, with Hotch watching you like a disapproving parent, the pressure was on.

You pointed vaguely toward a random row of cars. “It’s… that way.”

Hotch didn’t even bother looking. “No, it’s not.”

You spun back to him. “Excuse me?”

“You’re guessing.”

“I am not.”

“You’re stalling.”

“I am not!”

Hotch arched a single, knowing brow.

You huffed. “Fine. I may be stalling. But in my defence, I had a lot on my mind when I got here!”

Hotch inhaled, glancing at his watch. “Just describe what your car looks like and what you remember seeing when you got here.”

You frowned, thinking. “Okay, so, my car is… car-shaped.”

His stare was unmoving.

You cleared your throat. “It’s, uh… blue. Or, like, bluish. Depends on the lighting.”

“Anything else?”

You squinted at the parking lot, hoping for divine intervention. “I think I was near… a pole?”

“There are multiple poles.”

“A very specific pole.”

“Right.”

You groaned, rubbing your temples. “Ugh, this is so unfair. I have many talents, okay? Parking lot navigation is just not one of them.”

“Shocking,” he muttered before moving toward one section of the parking lot. “Let’s start from here.”

You followed, chewing the inside of your cheek.

A few minutes later – after much grumbling, a completely unnecessary debate about why all parking lots look the same, and one slightly humiliating moment where you tried to unlock someone else’s car – Hotch finally spotted your actual vehicle.

“Would you look at that! There she is, in all her glory!” you sang and this time, when you hit the unlock button, the lights actually flashed. Progress.

You pulled open the driver’s side door and tossed your purse inside before turning back to Hotch. “Thank you… again.” You let out a laugh. “It feels like that’s all I ever say to you.”

Hotch gave a small shrug, hands finding his pockets. “You do seem to require a lot of rescuing.”

“Alright, alright.” You pointed a manicured finger at him. “Despite what you might think, I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I just happen to have a mild navigational deficiency and… questionable taste in men. And friends, apparently – according to my ex fake fiancé.”

“Sounds like you’re finally learning.”

You rolled your eyes, sliding into your seat. “I hate that you’re good at this.”

“Good at what?”

“Reading people.” You gestured vaguely in his direction. “It’s very annoying.”

He smiled at you, one hand slipping from his pocket to rest against the edge of your car door. “I’ll try to be worse at my job next time.”

You leaned forward, placing your arms on the steering wheel with a playful spark in your eye. “Listen, Hotch, Hotchner, Aaron – I have a slight confession to make before I go.”

“That sentence doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.”

“This one’s harmless. Promise.”

Hotch stood there, shaking his head like he could not believe he was still standing there entertaining this conversation.

You tapped a finger against the wheel. “So, if mid-cookie bite you accidentally choke on a piece of paper, do not be alarmed – well, actually do be alarmed. I don’t want you to die before you’ve asked me out on a date.” You flashed him a pointed look. “But it’s my number – since apparently, having my address isn’t enough.”

“You hid your number in food?”

“Listen, it was either that or carve it into your desk with a knife, and I figured that would raise some concerns with your co-workers.”

Hotch pinched the bridge of his nose again, muttering something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like why me?

“But, you do have my number now, so really, the ball is in your court, Hotchner.”

“Is it?”

You nodded, sitting up straighter. “Mhm. And just so we’re clear – I expect a dramatic, over-the-top use of it. Maybe a cryptic, we need to talk text. Or a mysterious meet me at midnight type of situation.”

Hotch’s lips twitched. “You’d rather I text you about urgent matters than, say… just a normal conversation?”

“Aaron Hotchner, are you saying you want to have a normal conversation with me?”

He sighed, stepping back from your car. “Drive home, before I change my mind about letting you leave.”

You smirked, finally turning on the ignition. “Oh, so you let me leave now? That is so controlling of you.”

Hotch shook his head as he shut your door—just in time for you to lift a hand, making a finger phone gesture and mouthing Call me.

tags - @fandomscombine @dohmeti

divider by cafekitsune

[sematarygirls]

GONE  GIRL.                             masterlist

if you know the whereabouts of this person, please call 911 or contact the kildare county sheriff's department at 252-290-6688

       NAV ! Part One. Part Two.

CASE NUMBER: 2023-KILDARE-002

CASE NAME: L/N, Y/N - Missing Person

DATE SUBMITTED: July 24, 2023 (Investigation Ongoing)

AGENCY: Kildare County Police Department

EVIDENCE TECHNICIAN: Officer J. Gingham

ITEMS ENCLOSED:

1. Incident Report

2. USB Containing Witness Statements

3. USB Containing Suspect Interviews

4. Anonymous Tips & Alleged Sightings

5. Manilla Folder of Crime Scene Photos

6. Subpoenas for Phone Records

  6.1. Victim's Call Logs

7. Subpoenas for Text Messages

  7.1. Victim's Text Messages

8. Search Warrant for 313 Lakeshore Drive

  8.1. Bottle of Unidentified Pills (Pending Analysis)

  8.2. Encrypted Flashdrive (Pending Analysis)

  8.3. Victim's Diary

  8.4. Threatening Letter (Pending Handwriting Analysis)

  8.5. Calender with Day of Disappearance Circled

  8.6. Shattered Picture Frame of Victim and R. Cameron

  8.7. Cellphone Charger

  8.8. Hairbrush (Collected for DNA)

9. Search Warrant for R. Cameron's Room at 115 Kingsford Street

  9.1. Pair of Victim's Underwear

  9.2. Collection of Naked Photos of Victim

  9.3. "R" Pendant Necklace (Victim was Last Seen Wearing)

  9.4. Bloody T-Shirt (Pending Analysis)

10. Victim's Purse (Recovered at Old Church on Whickam Road)

  10.1. Wallet with ID

  10.2. Torn QuickFuel Reciept

  10.3. Baggie with Unidentified White Powder (Pending Analysis)

  10.4. ChapStick Classic Cherry Lip Balm

  10.5. Keyring: House Key for 313 Lakeshore Drive, House Key for 231 Bradford Road, Unidentified Key, Heart Locket Keychain with R. Cameron's Picture Inside

  10.6. White, Silver, and Red Sobriety Chips

  10.7. Sunglasses

  10.8. Lo Loestrin Fe Birth Control

  10.9. Crumpled Photo of Victim and Unidentified Man

  10.10. Pink Hello Kitty Lighter

  10.11. Switchblade

  10.12. Trident Pineapple Twist Gum

11. Copy of Missing Person's Flier

12. Incident Reports from 313 Lakeshore Drive

13. Subpoena of Victim's Bank Statements and Financial Records

  13.1. Victim's Bank Statements and Financial Records

14. Subpoena of Victim's Medical Records

  14.1. Victim's Medical Records

CHAIN OF CUSTODY LOG INCLUDED

notes .ᐟ the layout isn't very pretty, but you get the idea. it's a detailed account of everything in the evidence box thus far

taglist .ᐟ @starkeysprincess / @cometmultiverse / @iheartjjmaybnk / @all4l0vee / @kissesfrmriri / @bradshawed / @fallbhind / @rafeslittleangel / @bakugouswaif / @fakedhearts / @avada-kedavra-bitch-187 / @riaras-everthroner / @memoirofasparklemuff1n / @rafeysangelbaby

                                ୭ৎ

[mxtxfanatic]

No, every interpretation is not valid in a piece of media unless the creator has explicitly said somewhere that they have left their work open to interpretation. If you wanna “choose your own adventure” your way through a story, Minecraft exists, The Sims 4 was made free, a blank Word/Google document is a few clicks away, a pen and paper are easily found in the supplies section of most stores. A story for adults with a plot, characters, and conclusion is not your build-a-bear. You are looking for fanfics.

Someone else took the time to make a thing and share it with you so that you could understand the thing they are trying to communicate to you. If an author writes, “The sky is purple,” you don’t get to go, “Well, in the world that I live in, the sky is blue, so the sky in the story must be blue, too. Let’s discuss!” and treat that as “valid interpretation” that should be discussed with equal weight as the people discussing “ok, what’s the significance of the sky being purple? 🤔” I don’t give a singular fuck about whether you are familiar with the "cultural context" of the story or whether you can understand the original language it was written in or whether or not you know the creator on a person level. None of that shit matters, because nobody consumes media for the express purpose of finding out whether or not it conformed to the bank of knowledge Rando Number User #24,232 has learned in life. No person engaged in real critique ever has to take you seriously if your attempts at "analysis" begin and end at "I don't know the author irl to know what their intentions were, so anything goes!" That is a lazy copout, nothing "critical" to be found. Not everything in a general fandom space has to be canon-exclusive, no, but every claim to canon has to align with what is in the actual source material. There’s nothing wrong with either of those statements.

So no, you don’t get to waltz into a canon space going “Jiang Cheng is a great brother and uncle, let’s discuss” and then get upset when told “In this book, Jiang Cheng is an abusive uncle and childhood friend, and round these parts, we discuss the book.” Don’t wanna discuss Jiang Cheng's canon characteristics? The main tags never went anywhere. Get from round these parts.

[utilitycaster]

different anon, but the "theist DNI" ask was hilarious to me because I am still reeling from the post and especially OP going "the gods aren't really gods (because they're not omnipotent but just really powerful)" in it and then in the replies doubling down on the standpoint of "gods aren't real" - apparently just over the bank, basically conflating real world and Exandria in one fell swoop with this Universal Truth(tm) - because of course they can't produce any analysis of worth. they refuse to engage with basic tenets of the setting that do not fit their particular worldview. it really time and again comes back to people being unable to engage with religious concepts beyond a very superficial and milque-toast "Christianity evil, actually"

Yeah, this is true for like...a lot of the people claiming Campaign 3 is Great and we are all Not Leftist nor Intellectual Enough nor Capable of Parsing Black and White Morality; they say that and then they make and reblog posts with messages like "well you see the Good Brown People who were Colonized will Always be radicalized solely in the name of their own liberation haha don't look at any historical events from the last century", and in the end I do think it is all mostly in the name of trying to support the conclusion that killing the gods is definitely the right answer, and trying to work backwards from there to make the text fit.

I really didn't address the point that their arguments about the gods not being "real gods" were absolutely nonsensical (pro-tip: in a media analysis you can't just reference other works of fiction nor, if any of these ignoramuses did, literary and/or political theory, without actually analyzing them and drawing comparisons in the service of a thesis; "gods in this work are different than the gods in Exandria" is not actually a meaningful statement given that it's like yes Runescape and Exandria are two entirely different settings, things are different) but as always, follow the thread and the implications and you'll find the problems: so if the problem is that the gods are powerful but not all powerful, or don't admit they're not all powerful...does that mean they're ok? If they had given Ashton and Imogen what they wanted, would that mean that killing the titans and Aeor was totally fine? Is your argument that the gods are a colonizing force because they are from outside of Exandria and because they (with the people of Exandria) killed the titans (but the people of Exandria are ok for doing this for reasons of [crickets]) or is your argument that they are a colonizing force bc they didn't kiss your blorbo so sweetly on the head and tell them everything they were doing was good and correct? Because this really is leaning towards the latter. It is, again, an individual grievance falsely claimed to be a system of oppression.

And that's really the key. We are looking at a party with a lot of valid personal traumas, but virtually nothing in the way of in-world systemic oppression, and I do not think it is a coincidence that this party has a unique appeal for a group of people who are overwhelmingly white, overwhelmingly from financially stable upbringings, overwhelmingly from wealthy Western countries, and overwhelmingly people who were raised Christian, left the religion, became some kind of dullard nihilist who labors under the misapprehension that this makes them leftist, and really, really fucking hate being reminded that they are not, in fact, remotely close to being Christianity's greatest victims. It has a unique appeal for people who are obsessed with painting themselves as powerless to enact change - who, as I said in earlier tags and also like a billion posts dating back to at least early 2023, fetishize and glorify a lack of agency - because then haha you can't blame them! they can't do anything! I think they're REALLY mad, actually, that one of the most prominent critiques of Campaign 3 has become "this indecision and inaction and endless waffling is actually insufferable" because that drives a spike through the idea that you can evade judgment through doing nothing, despite this being like, one of the most basic ethical concepts. And again just as I don't think the CR cast is doing THAT message on purpose any more so than a (horrendously flawed to the point of failure) anticolonialism message, I just think that the mismatch of plot and character and the multitude of issues in the execution have unintentionally presented themselves in this manner.

Anyway yeah this inability to consider the idea that maybe Bells Hells have a wildly limited viewpoint and so do you is superficial, it's self-obsessed, and it's so goddamn banal.

[personastrologyhub]

Chart Observations, Charts of Selena & Analysis of the day of death. RIP Queen!

SPOOKY SEASON! Okay so in light of all hallows eve, I was feeling kind of morbid this morning and started to analyse how an assassination would appear in the charts of the legends we lost.

I'm starting this series starting with the Queen Selena Quintanilla 

Observations

Feel free to comment of leave your own observations.

Selena Quintanilla was born on April 16, 1971, in Lake Jackson, Texas.

She was murdered on March 31, 1995, in Corpus Christi, Texas, by Yolanda Saldívar.

Astrological Analysis with Example Connections

Selena’s Natal Chart Influences: Indicators of Vulnerability and Fame

Sun in Aries (Self-Determination and Fame): Her Aries Sun (ambition, independence) ruled by Mars (conflict, intensity) suggests a life marked by public visibility and an inner fire, but also potential clashes, especially within her relationships. The energy of Aries can attract passionate, even confrontational, dynamics, as seen in her final interaction with Saldívar, leader of  fan club and boutique. 

Venus in Pisces (Compassion and Trust):

Venus in Pisces reflects Selena’s deeply compassionate, forgiving, and trusting nature, which contributed to her broad appeal. However, Pisces (illusion) can sometimes blur boundaries, making those with this placement prone to seeing only the best in others, which could leave them vulnerable to betrayal. Selena’s Venus in Pisces (forgiveness, idealism) represents her tendency to trust others easily, seeing only the good in them. This could have made her more vulnerable to manipulation by someone close, as Pisces is often blind to hidden dangers within relationships. (Pisces rules mysteries, secrets, something that is hidden and unknown.)

North Node in Sagittarius (Public Influence): The North Node in Sagittarius (public exposure) aligns with a life of influence in the public sphere but also reveals potential risks associated with placing trust in those beyond her immediate family circle. Sagittarius emphasizes growth and risk, which may have exposed her to hidden threats.

Astrological Transits on March 31, 1995: The Day of the Assassination

Mars Conjunct Selena’s Saturn in Pisces (Conflict and Karmic Reckoning): On the day of her assassination, Mars (planet of aggression/fights/war and conflict) was conjunct Selena’s Saturn in Pisces. Mars (violence, aggression) in conjunction with Saturn (endings, karmic lessons) in Pisces (hidden enemies, secrets) represents a confrontation that culminated in betrayal and death. Pisces’ secretive influence implies that unresolved tensions with Saldívar were exposed, leading to a violent end.

Pluto Opposing Selena’s Moon in Taurus (Financial Betrayal and Emotional Vulnerability): Pluto in Scorpio (secrecy, intensity) opposing the Moon in Taurus (personal security, finances) highlights betrayal involving money and trust, with the emotional impact felt deeply by Selena. The financial element is underscored as she confronted Saldívar about bank statements, catalyzing the violent encounter.

The Impact of Transiting Pluto and Mars in Selena’s Natal Chart

Transiting Pluto in Scorpio (Themes of Death and Hidden Motives): Pluto (death, hidden motives) in Scorpio (intensity, revenge) amplified themes of betrayal and secrecy, bringing unresolved tensions with Saldívar to the surface. Scorpio’s association with power struggles implies that Selena’s final confrontation involved deep-rooted issues, reflecting Pluto’s fateful influence on her life.

Mars Activating Saturn in Pisces (Hidden Conflicts Resurfacing): The Mars-Saturn conjunction in Pisces signifies hidden or latent issues that reach a breaking point, often with sudden or final consequences. Pisces, representing things unseen, suggests an enemy within her inner circle whose hidden motives were finally exposed. Mars (aggression, action) conjunct Saturn (karmic consequences, boundaries) in Pisces (secrets, illusions) triggered hidden conflicts and brought long-standing issues with Saldívar into full view.

Moon in Sagittarius Conjunct Selena’s North Node (Life Path and Legacy): The Moon in Sagittarius aligned with Selena’s North Node on the day of her death, amplifying themes of fate and life mission. The Moon (emotions, public connection) in Sagittarius (legacy, life mission) conjunct her North Node (destiny) points to a pivotal moment that defined her path and influence. This aspect symbolizes the transformative impact of her passing, leaving an enduring legacy aligned with her life’s purpose.

Venus Opposite Pluto (Possessiveness and Betrayal): Venus in Taurus (relationships, loyalty) opposing Pluto in Scorpio (secrets, power struggles) emphasizes intense dynamics within relationships, suggesting themes of possessiveness, control, and betrayal. This alignment reflects Saldívar’s obsessive attachment to Selena and the tragic outcome of this toxic relationship.

Pluto’s influence over Venus mirrors the obsessive and possessive dynamics that culminated in violence, revealing hidden motives in their relationship.

Summary

Influences such as Mars conjunct Saturn in Pisces, Pluto in Scorpio opposing her Moon, and Venus opposing Pluto paint a vivid image of betrayal, hidden motives, and an escalating confrontation fueled by jealousy and possessiveness .Each Example Connection reveals how astrological symbols mirrored real-life events, from the violent confrontation in a private setting to Selena’s unyielding trust in someone from her inner circle. Her astrological transits on March 31, 1995, echo themes of trust, karmic reckoning, and finality, as aspects aligned in ways that exposed vulnerabilities and triggered hidden tensions, ultimately marking the end of her bright and beloved life.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

The Lincoln Project :: @ProjectLincoln

Kamala Harris delivers her closer at the Elipse, as Park Police estimate a crowd of 75,000 has gathered.

* * * *

KAMALA CLOSES

TCinLA

Oct 29, 2024

To me, Kamala Harris closing speech was the kind of closing argument a prosecutor presents to a jury, lioning out why they should make the decision they will.

Anand Ghiriharadas posted an excellent analysis of her closing speech, which I am posting below.

That was a very strong closing argument from Kamala Harris. Framing the threat of fascism as not an abstraction but a distraction from a focus on your problems. Promising to move us away from the chaos and division of these years and heal families and communities.

She very deftly pitted who he is against who we are and dared people to show that their country is much better than he is.Share

She pulled off the bank shot: saying we have to save a democracy, yes, but save it for a reason, which is to make your life better. It is a complicated maneuver, and she did it well tonight.

She invited men to stand up for the women in their lives.

She talked about the border, but then quickly and rightly pivoted to the fact that we are nation of immigrants, a fact we should celebrate.

Her reclaiming of freedom and patriotism is a coup, the good kind of coup. The crowd’s embrace of patriotism and “U.S.A.!” chants tonight shows how much that message has been transmitted and left an imprint.

There was something raw and personal when she talked about how she just is irked by unfairness. It just doesn’t sit right with her. It felt like a statement of motivation that was much richer than the generic fact of being a middle-class kid. It got somewhere visceral.

We are all so exhausted by fascist threat mitigation that we forget all the awesome stuff we could be doing instead. So her section on building houses also served as a reminder that building in general, creating, dreaming, can again become our focus when he is finally gone from our lives.

She is, on a deeper level, attempting a rebranding of the Democratic Party away from big program creation, dating back to FDR, and reorienting it around quality of life improvement. Don’t talk about the programs you want to create. Talk about the pain points you want to solve.

Many of the best arguments of recent years are weaving together now. Trump’s narrow, hateful vision isn’t who we are. His project is all about him, not your problems. The soul of the nation is good and can be reclaimed. The divisions can end. Let’s build stuff instead of fight.

Most powerfully, she invoked American history from end to end, and vowed that a country founded in defiance of a petty tyrant must refuse to submit to another.

[unluckycactus]

Preview:

“Imagine giving an elementary school child high-tech alien weapons and the power of a laser gun. Meet Nanoha Takamachi.”

The rest of his presentation was a series of outlandish statements:

“This child can either wipe out the entire solar system or reset its evolution.” The caption above read ‘Sailor Saturn.’

“This young girl can bring people back from the dead and guarantee the longevity of mankind. Shenglong who?” It showed Sailor Moon.

“These two have unlimited access to guns, and one of them can travel through time. This child has become a god.” Of course, the girls from Madoka Magica had to appear.

Choi Han was next, and no one was prepared for the content of his presentation.

[ ORV and how YJH became my animal spirit. ]

“Mistakes were made.” That was his opener.

The swordsman then went on to explain how he hated this character for more than half of the novel until a certain moment.

“When the serious character goes along with the madness of his own free will, then I can't hate him any more.”

[ Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen. And how I could have made it better. ]

“This presentation and analysis is based on my understanding of the U.S. legal, banking and tax systems.” Was Soohyun's disclaimer.

What followed was a masterclass in fraud.

[novelpatterns]

How Does Bank Statement Analysis Enhance Credit Underwriting in Financial Institutions?

What is a Bank Statement Analysis?

Bank statement analysis is a systematic review of the transactions recorded in a bank statement, used primarily to assess an individual’s or company’s financial health and stability. This process is essential in credit underwriting, where banks and financial institutions evaluate whether a borrower is capable of repaying a loan. By examining how money is received and spent, lenders can get a detailed picture of the borrower’s financial behaviour, cash flow stability, and overall creditworthiness.

Through this analysis, financial institutions gain insights into several critical aspects of a borrower’s financial life. For instance, regular deposits may indicate a steady income, while frequent overdrafts could signal financial mismanagement. By identifying these patterns, lenders can make informed decisions about the level of risk involved in lending to a particular individual or business.

Moreover, bank statement analysis goes beyond just assessing current financial health; it also helps in projecting future financial behavior. This predictive capability is invaluable in credit underwriting as it allows lenders to anticipate potential financial difficulties before they arise, enabling proactive management of loan portfolios. In addition, understanding spending habits and financial commitments through bank statement analysis aids in customizing lending products to better suit the borrower’s needs. This personalized approach not only enhances customer satisfaction but also strengthens the institution's relationship with its clients, fostering loyalty and trust.

The Role of Bank Statement Analysis in the Financial Sector

In the financial sector, understanding the cash flow of potential borrowers is crucial for risk management. Bank statement analysis provides a factual basis for making lending decisions by highlighting the financial strengths and vulnerabilities of the borrowers. It allows lenders to assess:

Income Stability: Regular income entries reflect financial stability.

Cash Flow: Timing and consistency of cash inflows and outflows.

Financial Commitments: Recurring expenses and existing liabilities.

Spending Behaviour: Patterns that might indicate financial distress or mismanagement.

Key Components of Bank Statements

A bank statement typically includes the following components, each providing valuable insights into the account holder’s financial activities:

Account Holder Information: Identity verification to prevent fraud.

Account Summary: Overview of the financial status at the beginning and end of the period.

Detailed Transactions: All the inflows and outflows during the statement period, providing a trail of financial activities.

Utilization of Bank Statement Analyzers in Credit Underwriting

The adoption of bank statement analyzers in credit underwriting has revolutionized how financial institutions assess credit risk. These tools automate the extraction and analysis of financial information, offering advantages such as:

Efficiency: Rapid processing of data to speed up the credit decision process.

Accuracy: Reduced human error in data interpretation.

Scalability: Ability to handle large volumes of applications.

Financial Insights Derived from Bank Statement Analysis

By thoroughly analyzing bank statements, lenders can:

Detect Early Warning Signs: Unusual transactions or abrupt changes in spending can indicate potential financial distress.

Evaluate Financial Discipline: Regular savings and consistent payment of bills show financial responsibility.

Assess Profitability and Growth: For businesses, consistent revenue growth and profitability are good indicators of a healthy company.

Statistical Insights in Bank Statement Analysis

The power of bank statement analysis can be illustrated through various statistics:

A study by found that businesses that maintain average monthly balances of at least 10% of their annual revenues are 30% more likely to maintain long-term financial stability.

According to a report, applicants with irregular income patterns are 15% more likely to default on loans than those with steady incomes.

Data from a financial analytics firm indicated that 20% of loan defaults were associated with borrowers who had significant fluctuations in their monthly expenses.

Advanced Techniques in Bank Statement Analysis

Modern bank statement analyzers employ advanced techniques such as:

Machine Learning: To identify patterns and predict future behavior based on historical data.

Data Visualization: Graphical representation of data to spot trends and outliers more effectively.

Natural Language Processing (NLP): To interpret transaction descriptions and categorize them automatically.

Challenges and Solutions in Bank Statement Analysis

Despite its advantages, bank statement analysis faces challenges such as:

Data Overload: Handling the massive volume of data can be overwhelming.

Privacy Concerns: Ensuring the security and confidentiality of personal and financial data.

Complexity of Analysis: Especially with non-standardized financial statements.

Solutions include:

Adopting Robust Data Management Systems: To handle large datasets efficiently.

Implementing Strong Cybersecurity Measures: To protect sensitive data.

Continuous Training and Development: Ensuring that financial analysts are equipped with the latest tools and knowledge.

Conclusion: The Future of Financial Analysis

Bank statement analysis is becoming increasingly sophisticated, with new technologies enhancing the accuracy and depth of financial insights. As financial institutions continue to embrace digital transformation, the role of bank statement analyzers will expand, becoming a fundamental aspect of financial assessments. This progression not only helps in accurate credit underwriting but also empowers consumers and businesses to understand and improve their financial health, fostering a more financially literate and stable society.

As the landscape of financial technology evolves, the integration of advanced analytical tools is reshaping traditional banking practices. These innovations are democratizing access to financial insights, allowing both individuals and businesses to make informed decisions about their financial futures.

The future of bank statement analysis is likely to see even more integration with artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies, further enhancing transparency and trust in financial transactions. AI-driven insights will provide more personalized financial advice, helping consumers optimize their spending and saving habits. Meanwhile, blockchain could offer an immutable record-keeping system that enhances the security and accuracy of financial data.

In this new era, collaboration between financial institutions, fintech companies, and regulatory bodies will be key to ensuring that these technological advancements are leveraged ethically and responsibly. By prioritizing consumer privacy and data protection, while also fostering innovation, the financial sector can build a robust framework that supports sustainable growth and financial inclusion for all.

Ultimately, as bank statement analysis becomes more accessible and comprehensive, it will not only enhance the efficiency of credit underwriting but also contribute to the broader goal of creating a more equitable financial ecosystem. This shift will empower consumers with the knowledge and tools they need to achieve financial well-being, paving the way for a future where financial literacy is the norm rather than the exception.

[scoremeijiu98]

A Comprehensive Guide to Bank Statement Analysis

In today’s financial landscape, understanding your bank statements is crucial for effective money management and financial planning. Bank statement analysis not only helps individuals track their spending but also aids in detecting errors, budgeting, and making informed financial decisions. This comprehensive guide provides insights into how to analyze bank statements effectively, ensuring you maximize their utility and maintain financial health.

What is Bank Statement Analysis?

Bank statement analysis involves reviewing and interpreting the details contained in your bank statements. This includes transactions, balances, fees, and other pertinent financial data. The goal is to gain a clear understanding of your financial habits, identify discrepancies, and make informed decisions based on your financial behavior.

Why is Bank Statement Analysis Important?

Track Spending HabitsAnalyzing your bank statements helps you understand where your money is going. By categorizing expenses and income, you can identify spending patterns, adjust your budget, and find areas where you might save more.

Detect Errors and FraudRegularly reviewing your bank statements helps spot errors or unauthorized transactions. Early detection of these issues allows you to address them promptly with your bank, minimizing potential financial loss.

Improve BudgetingWith a clear picture of your income and expenses, you can create a more accurate and realistic budget. Bank statement analysis helps ensure that your budget reflects actual spending and income trends.

Plan for the FutureAnalyzing past transactions provides insights into your financial behavior, which can guide future financial planning. Whether saving for a major purchase or planning for retirement, understanding your financial patterns is essential for setting and achieving goals.

Steps for Effective Bank Statement Analysis

Gather Your StatementsCollect all relevant bank statements for the period you wish to analyze. This could be monthly, quarterly, or annually, depending on your needs. Most banks provide online access to statements, making it easy to download and review them.

Categorize TransactionsBreak down your transactions into categories such as groceries, utilities, dining out, and entertainment. Many financial software tools and apps can automate this process, but it can also be done manually. Categorization helps in understanding spending patterns and identifying areas where adjustments can be made.

Review Balances and TransactionsExamine the opening and closing balances on each statement. Ensure that all transactions are correctly recorded and that there are no discrepancies between your records and the bank’s records. Pay attention to fees, interest charges, and any unusual transactions.

Identify Trends and PatternsLook for recurring expenses and income sources. Identify any trends in your spending that could indicate a need for adjustment. For instance, if you notice a consistent overspending in a particular category, consider revising your budget or spending habits.

Check for Errors and FraudScrutinize each transaction to ensure it matches your receipts or records. Report any discrepancies, such as unauthorized transactions or errors, to your bank immediately. Keeping an eye out for fraudulent activities is crucial for safeguarding your finances.

Summarize FindingsCreate a summary of your analysis, highlighting key findings such as total expenses, income, and any areas for improvement. This summary can serve as a basis for budgeting and financial planning.

Tools and Resources for Bank Statement Analysis

Financial Software and AppsMany financial tools and apps can help automate bank statement analysis. These tools often offer features like expense categorization, budget tracking, and financial reporting.

SpreadsheetsIf you prefer a manual approach, using spreadsheets like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets can be effective. Create a template to track and categorize your transactions, and use built-in functions to analyze spending patterns.

Banking ToolsSome banks offer built-in tools and features for analyzing transactions and managing budgets. Explore your bank’s online platform to see if such tools are available.

Tips for Successful Bank Statement Analysis

Be ConsistentRegularly review your bank statements to stay on top of your financial situation. Monthly reviews are recommended to catch any issues early and maintain an accurate budget.

Keep DocumentationMaintain receipts and records for significant transactions. This documentation can help verify transactions and resolve any discrepancies.

Set Financial GoalsUse insights from your bank statement analysis to set and track financial goals. Whether saving for a vacation or paying off debt, having clear goals can help you stay focused and motivated.

Conclusion

Bank statement analysis is a vital practice for managing your finances effectively. By understanding your spending habits, detecting errors, and making informed decisions, you can take control of your financial future. Whether you use financial software, spreadsheets, or manual methods, regular analysis of your bank statements is key to maintaining financial health and achieving your financial goals.

[dizzymoods]

[Link to original article]

I do not disagree with the sentiment expressed by Malm in this article nor in the excerpted quote. However, how it is expressed and celebrated is bothersome.

i was in middle school when the war on terror started. The use of "civilian" is not a neutral descriptor. "Civilian" has a connotation denoting whiteness, ascribed with a degree of innocence. Civilians killed by the US in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, [pick a country] are "collateral damage" not "civilians". We've seen israelis call Palestinian babies born in the months after October 2023, Hamas ie enemy combatants.

Almost all israelis are ex-colonial soldiers. How do we describe them as "civilians" when they partook in violent military action against Palestinians? Those that are not ex-idf still maintain the colonial society. Religious, pacifist objectors to service rarely renounce their citizenship. The idf, even if they brutalize these objectors, nevertheless protect their spot on the land — ironically the very reason for the punishment, "you're only here bc of us dummy". And then you have civilians, who may not be active military but become avatars of the colonial army when they call upon the idf to help them kick Palestinians out of their homes in the West Bank.

I met someone who is descended from the family who enslaved my maternal family. We are related and to borrow a phrase from James Baldwin, "my grandmother is not a rapist." Even though slave owners or settler/colonizers may not be official government employees, they authorize the state. We see this expressed in 1776 and 1948, for example.

Calling israelis settlers is not an indictment of their morality or an indication of the level of violence they've personally conducted. It is a descriptor of the violence inherent to their class position in the way bourgeois is. Calling them "civillians" is invoking a moral sentiment that the people they are colonizing, the Palestinians, are not afforded. Zionist rag The Atlantic literally said it is okay to kill babies the day before the firebombing of Rafah where we actually saw people burned alive and decapitated babies. That's one.

Two: Why are we re-litigating 7 October over half a year into a genocide?

"Critically" supporting Palestinian armed resistance 184 days and 75 years after Al-Aqsa Flood is a bit late, no? (Malm's original article was published on 8 April 24) So how is this statement exactly brave when people were supporting Palestinian armed resistance for decades? I mean Wu Tang Clan was rapping about PLO style 31 years ago. Chavez, Mao, Malcolm, the Panthers, Castro, Mandela, Shakur, Jordan etc etc etc have all supported not just the Palestinian cause but the righteousness of their armed struggle. Unequivocally, mind you. It's only been settler-supporters of Palestine that equivocate on this matter.

Liberal supporters of Palestine still wince at the celebrations of Al-Aqsa Flood. And of the Haitian Revolution and of the FLN, ANC, etc etc. They think it is a celebration of killing settler-"civilians". It's not. It's a celebration of the advancement of or the success of the liberation movement.

It sounds callous but everyone has a matter of fact relationship to violence. It's not cause for celebration. it's actually a tragedy. Violence is a sign non-violent means we're ineffective. It means the endurance people have of death without concessions has been exhausted.

The zionist Jabotinsky understood this in 1923. It doesn't matter if the jewish settlers are benevolent or malicious: there is a contradiction between the zionists who want to settle the land and the Palestinians who refuse to cede the land, which can only be reconciled through violence. And if the zionists were to be successful, he said they will need to ceaselessly employ offensively defensive violence to maintain their settlements. Hence the mowing of the lawn in Gaza every two years, the ever expanding settlements in the West Bank. Jabotinsky's analysis is 40 years older than Wretched of the Earth btw. Straight from the colonizer's mouth. So again, what is brave about this statement?

[edited for spelling]

[thatpodcastkid]

Magnus Archives Relisten 11, MAG 11 Dreamer

If someone came to my place of work proclaiming they had a prophetic dream about my death I would simply believe them. RIP to Gertrude but I'm just built different ig.

MAG 11 analysis, spoilers ahead!

Facts: Statement of "Antonio Blake" regarding his dreams of Gertrude Robinson, Head Archivist of the Magnus Institute (Head Archivist is another odd and foreshadowing usage of proper nouns in the transcript). Statement given March 14th, 2015.

Statement Notes: Oliver I love you but I also hate you so so much.

It's so strange relistening to this statement. On my first listen, I was very sympathetic to "Antonio." He was this innocent man who suddenly developed psychic abilities that tormented him. Even in 121 when he describes what he did on the voyage to Point Nemo, he seems to be driven by fear and desperation. But knowing what happens after Point Nemo and who he becomes in the Eyepocalypse, I wonder how much influence the power of the End had on him. As Jon develops his abilities, he becomes less confident in "normal" social situations, but more confident and stronger in dangerous horror-based scenarios. This seems true with Blake/Banks as well. He's very nervous as his abilities are developing when he tries to talk to Gertrude or Jennifer from Grifter's Bone. As he becomes more attuned with his abilities and gives in to his desires, he becomes more powerful, shown when he is strong and devoid of emotion enough to kill the actual Dr. Pritchard. He becomes strongest when he "gives in" to the End, being most clear and charming as he gives his statement in 121 and the Coroner's Report in 168. Just being able to track this change so clearly from this first statement to the last speaks not only to Jonny Sims skills for character development, but also the power of the Entities to draw out the worst in a person.

Blake describes his dream world as an "overexposed" or "washed out" photograph. The fading imagery was very profound and strong to me. Death is a fear, a horror represented by the black tendrils, but also a simple force of nature, slowly sucking life and color from all things. Unstoppable.

I don't know why I'm harping on this, but I can't understand why Blake's dreams always begin at the top of Canary Wharf. Does that come up again in the show? Is it personally significant to Blake?

Character Notes: I already got into Blake, so my other main character concern for this episode is Gertrude.

Did she ever see this statement?

Did she simply miss it? Was she busy and didn't get a chance to look at it before it was too late? Did she read it and attempt to prepare? She was smart. She knew which statements were real and which weren't. She would have understood what Blake was capable of. Did she attempt to prepare and defend herself but just couldn't manage it? Did Elias hide it from her? Did she read it and just accept the inevitable?

But of course, I have to bring up the Graham mention. I always thought the Graham/Oliver ship was just a fun fan thing, but I didn't realize Oliver had broken up with a Graham in cannon. Moreover, I didn't realize that it was confirmed to be Graham Folger until reading about the Season 5 Q&A when working on this post.

This raises an interesting point about original Graham. Blake describes having a mental breakdown due to his job, and Amy Patel describes her office job degrading her mental health as well. Is there something about Graham that attracts people losing their minds in an office? While it could be something spooky, I do understand why people stuck in mind-numbing careers would be drawn to someone with the time and resources to explore what he actually wants to do with his life, rather than what he has to do.

Entity Alignment: This is very clearly an End episode. I very much believe that, while he may not be the most powerful or dangerous avatar in the series, Oliver Banks was one of the most deeply connected to his entity. His psyche, his spirit, and his physical body were all so entrenched in death. It's interesting that there is no "inciting incident" that causes Graham to become an avatar of the End, as usually there is one event that acts as the root of an avatar's development. You could possibly argue it was his mental health breakdown, but that seems unrelated to death or anything associated with the End.

[tieflingkisser]

Israel Is Currently Imprisoning at Least 240 Children in West Bank, Group Says

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society says that many children have been subjected to torture while imprisoned.

Israel has detained at least 640 Palestinian children in the West Bank since October, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) reported on Monday, as Israeli officials have escalated their violence and suppression of Palestinians in the West Bank during their genocide of Gaza. At least 240 of these children are still in Israeli detention, according to the group. Israeli officials are also imprisoning a group of children in Megiddo prison in northern Israel, PPS reported. Megiddo prison, like many other Israeli detention centers, is rife with abuse, reports have found, for both children and adults held there. These children have been “exposed to all kinds of retaliatory measures, including abuse, torture, as well as medical negligence” while imprisoned, the group said. This includes a 7-year-old child, Baha Kazem Haj Mohammed, who PPS said was arrested on Sunday, the first day of the Eid al-Adha holiday. He was reportedly detained along with several other children while in the town center of al-Mughayyir, near Ramallah in the West Bank, and was beaten and then released hours later, according to the group. Israel has a long history of abusing Palestinian children in the West Bank and Gaza, as Palestinians say that Israeli officials view children as the future of Palestine, which they must extinguish. According to Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCIP), Israeli forces have detained 13,000 Palestinian children since 2000 — typically boys between the ages of 12 and 17. In an analysis of affidavits from 766 of these arrests in recent years, DCIP found that 75 percent of these children were subject to violence while detained, while 97 percent were interrogated without family or a lawyer present. A quarter of them are then imprisoned in solitary confinement — a brutal form of torture — for two or more days before trial, one expert recently told Reuters.

[...]

The arrests are part of Israel’s escalating violence in the West Bank. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) recently reported that it has recorded the deaths of at least 505 Palestinians in the West Bank since October, marking a period of “unprecedented bloodshed” in the region while Israel has been indiscriminately slaughtering Palestinians in Gaza. The acceleration of brutality against Palestinians in the West Bank has alarmed some advocates against Israel’s apartheid and occupation. “While the world is understandably focused on the destruction unfolding in Gaza, we should not lose sight of what is happening in the West Bank — actions which are in violation of both American and international law,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) in a statement on Friday. “Let’s be clear: the right-wing, extremist [Benjamin] Netanyahu government is not only breaking international law in Gaza, they are doing the same in the West Bank, where they are pursuing illegal annexation by force,” Sanders continued. “Netanyahu should be facing serious consequences for these violations, not receiving an invitation to address a joint session of Congress.”

[mariacallous]

For more than three weeks, Gaza has faced an almost total internet blackout. The cables, cell towers, and infrastructure needed to keep people online have been damaged or destroyed as Israel launched thousands of missiles in response to Hamas attacking Israel and taking hundreds of hostages on October 7. Then, this evening, amid reports of heavy bombing in Gaza, some of the last remaining connectivity disappeared.

In the days after October 7, people living in Gaza have been unable to communicate with family or friends, leaving them unsure whether loved ones are alive. Finding reliable news about events has become harder. Rescue workers have not been able to connect to mobile networks, hampering recovery efforts. And information flowing out of Gaza, showing the conditions on the ground, has been stymied.

As the Israel Defense Forces said it was expanding its ground operations in Gaza this evening, internet connectivity fell further. Paltel, the main Palestinian communications company, has been able to keep some of its services online during Israel’s military response to Hamas’ attack. However, at around 7:30 pm local time today, internet monitoring firm NetBlocks confirmed a “collapse” in connectivity in the Gaza Strip, mostly impacting remaining Paltel services.

“We regret to announce a complete interruption of all communications and internet services within the Gaza Strip,” Paltel posted in a post on its Facebook page. The company claimed that bombing had “caused the destruction of all remaining international routes.” An identical post was made on the Facebook page of Jawwal, the region’s biggest mobile provider, which is owned by Paltel. Separately, Palestinian Red Crescent, a humanitarian organization, said on X (formerly Twitter) that it had lost contact with its operation room in Gaza and is “deeply concerned” about its ability to keep caring for people, with landline, cell, and internet connections being inaccessible.

“This is a terrifying development,” Marwa Fatafta, a policy manager focusing on the Middle East and North Africa at the digital rights group Access Now, tells WIRED. “Taking Gaza completely off the grid while launching an unprecedented bombardment campaign only means something atrocious is about to happen.”

A WIRED review of internet analysis data, social media posts, and Palestinian internet and telecom company statements shows how connectivity in the Gaza Strip drastically plummeted after October 7 and how some buildings linked to internet firms have been damaged in attacks. Photos and videos show sites that house various internet and telecom firms have been damaged, while reports from official organizations, including the United Nations, describe the impact of people being offline.

Damaged Lines

Around the world, the internet and telecoms networks that typically give web users access to international video calls, online banking, and endless social media are a complicated, sprawling mix of hardware and software. Networks of networks, combining data centers, servers, switches, and reams of cables, communicate with each other and send data globally. Local internet access is provided by a mix of companies with no clear public documentation of their infrastructure, making it difficult to monitor the overall status of the system as a whole. In Gaza, experts say, internet connectivity is heavily reliant on Israeli infrastructure to connect to the outside world.

Amid Israel’s intense bombing of Gaza, physical systems powering the internet have been destroyed. On October 10, the United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which oversees emergency responses, said air strikes “targeted several telecommunication installations” and had destroyed two of the three main lines of communications going into Gaza.

Prior to tonight’s blackout, internet connectivity remained but was “extremely slow and limited,” Access Now’s Fatafta says. People she has spoken to from Gaza say it could take a day to upload and send a few photos. “They have to send like 20 messages in order for one to go through,” Fatafta says. “They are desperately—especially for Gazans that live outside—trying to get through to their families.”

“Every time I try to call someone from family or friends, I try to call between seven to 10 times,” says Ramadan Al-Agha, a digital marketer who lives in Khan Yunis, a city in the south of the Gaza Strip. “The call may be cut off two or three times,” he told WIRED in a WhatsApp message before the latest outages. “We cannot access news quickly and clearly.” People in the region have simultaneously faced electricity blackouts, dwindling supplies of fuel used to power generators, and a lack of clean water, food, and medical supplies. “It is a humanitarian disaster,” Al-Agha says.

Connectivity in Gaza started to drop not long after Israel responded to the October 7 Hamas attack. Rene Wilhelm, a senior R&D engineer at the nonprofit internet infrastructure organization Ripe Network Coordination Center, says based on an analysis of internet routing data it collects that 11 Palestinian networks, which may operate both in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, began to experience disruption after October 7. Eight of the networks were no longer visible to the global internet as of October 23, Wilhelm says. Ahead of this evening’s blackout, there was around 15 percent of normal connectivity, according to data from Georgia Tech’s Internet Outage Detection and Analysis project. That dropped to around 7 percent as reports of the blackout circulated.

One office belonging to Paltel in the Al Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City has been destroyed in the attacks, photos and videos show. Floors have been destroyed and windows blown away in the multistory building, and piles of rubble surround the entrances. (It is unclear what equipment the building housed or how many floors Paltel occupied.) Another internet provider, AlfaNet, is listed as being based in the Al-Watan Tower. The company posted to its Facebook page on October 8 that the tower had been destroyed and its services have stopped, with other online posts also saying the tower has been destroyed.

Multiple Palestinian internet and telecoms firms have said their services have been disrupted during the war, mostly posting to social media. Internet provider Fusion initially said its engineers were trying to repair its infrastructure, although it has since said this is not continuing. “The network was destroyed, and the cables and poles were badly damaged by the bombing,” it wrote on Facebook. JetNet said there had been a “sudden disruption” to access points. SpeedClick posted that the situation was out of its control. And HiNet posted that it has “no more to offer to ensure” people could stay online following “the attacks and destruction our internet servers have suffered.”

Across Paltel’s network on October 19, according to an update shared by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 83 percent of fixed line users had been disconnected, with 53 percent of sites providing fixed line connections also being offline. Half of the company’s fiber optic internet lines in Gaza weren’t operational, the update says. The connectivity disappeared this evening, according to Paltel’s Facebook post, which says there has been a “complete interruption” of all its services. Paltel, AlfaNet, Fusion, and SpeedClick could not be reached or did not respond to requests for comment.

Lost Connections

In recent years, governments and authoritarian regimes have frequently turned to shutting down the internet for millions of people in attempts to suppress protests and curtail free speech. Targeting the communications networks is common during conflicts. During Russia's war in Ukraine, its forces have decimated communications networks, tried to take over the internet, and set up new mobile companies to control information flows. When Hamas first attacked Israel on October 7, it used drones to bomb communications equipment at surveillance posts along the borders of the Gaza Strip.

Monika Gehner, the head of corporate communications at the International Telecommunication Union, says the body is always “alarmed” by damage inflicted on any telecommunications infrastructure during conflicts. The ITU, the United Nations’ primary internet governance body, believes “efficient telecommunication services” are crucial to peace and international cooperation, and its secretary-general has called for respecting infrastructure in the Middle East, Gehner says.

Officials in Israel have consistently claimed they are targeting Hamas militants within Gaza, not civilians, while responding to the Hamas attacks, which killed more than 1,400 people in Israel. The Hamas-run Health Ministry within Gaza has said more than 7,000 people have been killed there and released a list of names. A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces did not respond to WIRED’s questions about internet disruptions within Gaza.

Hanna Kreitem, a senior adviser for internet technology and development in the Middle East and North Africa at the Internet Society, an open internet advocacy nonprofit, says Palestinian firms have a “big reliance” on Israeli internet firms. “Palestinians are not controlling any of the ICT infrastructure,” says Mona Shtaya, a non-resident fellow at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy. Mobile networks in the Gaza Strip rely on 2G technologies. Al-Agha, the digital marketer, shared a screenshot showing mobile internet speeds of 7.18 kilobytes per second; average mobile speeds in the US in 2022 were 24 megabits per second, according to mobile analytics firm Statista.

“The internet is vital in times of war in crises,” says Fatafta, the Access Now policy manager, who adds that there can be “terrible consequences” linked to connectivity blackouts. The UN’s OCHA said rescue workers have had a harder time “carrying out their mission” partly due to the “limited or no connection to mobile networks.” Al-Agha says he has lost some clients due to the disruptions. The lack of connectivity can obscure events that are happening on the ground, Fatafta says. News crews have told WIRED they have footage from the ground but are “losing the story because of the internet.”

Kreitem says that a lack of electricity and access to the equipment will have made an impact on top of any physical damage to communications networks. “We don't know how many of the people that actually operate these networks are still alive,” Kreitem says. “The network operators are part of the world there, there's no place for them to run. They are as affected as any other person.”

[odinsblog]

For all the time Republicans spend complaining about the economic struggles faced by everyday Americans, they remain steadfast in their commitment to ensuring major corporations can continue squeezing their customers.

Late Wednesday afternoon, the GOP-controlled House Financial Services Committee voted to advance a bill that would repeal a new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rule that drastically reduces the caps on credit card late fees - from $30-$41 to $8.

The legislation would also repeal the CFPB's ban on automatic adjustment of late fees due to inflation. In the Democratic-controlled Senate, where the bill is expected to fail, a similar repeal measure was introduced by Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Ranking Member Tim Scott (R-S.C.) — who has recently devoted most of his energy to fawning over Donald Trump — and co-sponsored by 12 other Republicans.

“Credit card companies penalize consumers with exorbitant late fees that far exceed their actual costs, raking in billions of dollars in profits on the backs of those who can least afford it,” said Chuck Bell, advocacy program director for Consumer Reports, in a statement urging Congress to reject the repeal.

According to Republicans on the committee, however, lowering late fees will “harm consumers by shifting costs to responsible consumers who pay on time in the form of higher annual fees and higher interest rates,” while removing incentives for timely payments.”

An analysis published this week by the watchdog group Accountable.US found that Republicans on the committee have “received over $7.9 million from industry groups against this rule and the largest credit issuers.”

(continue reading)