The Bank Credit Analysis Handbook: A Guide for Analysts, Bankers and Investors, 2nd Edition

Preface to the New Edition

In early 1997, Jonathan Golin applied for a position of bank credit analyst with Thomson BankWatch. He had limited experience in financial analysis, let alone bank financial analysis, but Philippe Delhaise, then president of BankWatch’s Asia division, had long held the view that outstanding brains, good analytical skills, a passion for details, and a degree of latent skepticism were the best assets of a brilliant bank financial analyst. He immediately hired Jonathan.

Jonathan joined a team of very talented senior analysts, among them Andrew Seiz, Damien Wood, Tony Watson, Paul Grela, and Mark Jones. Philippe and the Thomson BankWatch Asia team produced, as early as 1994 and 1995, forewarning reports on the weaknesses of Asia’s banking systems that led to the Asian crisis of 1997.

After the crisis erupted, Philippe made countless presentations on all continents, and he conducted, with some of his senior analysts, a number of seminars on the Asian crisis. This led to a contract with John Wiley & Sons for Philippe to produce a book on the 1997 crisis that was very well received, and which we hope the reader will forgive us for quoting occasionally.

When in 1999 John Wiley & Sons started looking for a writer who could put together a comprehensive bank credit analysis handbook, Philippe had neither the time nor the courage to embark on such a voyage, but he encouraged Jonathan to take the plunge with the support of unlimited access to Philippe’s notes and ...