The documentation your lender will want
By Jenny C. McCune • Bankrate.com

Before the bank issues you that big check, you'll need to convince the lender that you deserve -- and can repay -- the money. This is usually done by providing stacks and stacks of supporting papers.

For major loans, such as a mortgage, it may seem like you'll have to put together a book of your financial life. With smaller loans, the lender's requests might not be as overwhelming. But in all cases, you will have to provide some documentation.

Here's a look at the items you'll need to collect for your loan officer:

• Tax returns from the last two years, along with accompanying W-2 and 1099 forms
• Pay stubs for the last 30 days
• Most-recent statements for your credit card accounts
• Documentation of current outstanding home, auto, school or other loans
• Bank and brokerage account statements for the previous three months
• Titles for any cars you own
• Divorce or legal separation documents
• Award letter and copy of payment from any legal settlements
• Latest check from Social Security if receiving retirement or disability payments
• Copy of latest profit-and-loss statement if self-employed

Mortgage loan
Again, proof of income tops the lender's documentation list: tax returns, pay stubs, and W-2s.

You'll also be asked to provide a complete listing of assets and liabilities.

Then you'll have to get your mortgage lender a legal description of the property, a completed title search, a survey of the property and proof of insurance.

Auto loan
In addition to income documentation, you'll need to provide your lender with proof of purchase, vehicle identification number and proof of insurance in the amount it requires.

The lender also will want confirmation that you've given information about it to your insurance company and to your state's department of motor vehicles so that its name will appear on the title.

Personal loan
The documentation required by a lender in these cases generally depends on the amount of the personal loan, says Janette Davis, senior executive vice president of the community banking division of BankUnited. Generally, lenders require more paperwork for loans of $5,000 or more.

This can include income information (W-2s, pay stubs, income tax returns), the most-recent statements from your credit companies and details of any outstanding loans.

Asset-secured loans
For loans secured by a personal asset, your lender will need to take possession of the asset or otherwise have access to it.

If you're using a car as collateral, for example, the lender's name will have to go on the car's title (as is the case with an auto loan). If you're using stocks, the lender will probably ask you to provide the actual certificates. Where the stocks are held only in electronic form, Davis says the issue might be resolved by having your broker transmit the electronically held stock certificates to the bank's trading arm, if it has one.

It might be easier to see if your brokerage firm will give you a loan secured by the stocks. But if you're going to get a loan from the bank, you'll have to figure out a way for your banker to have access to the collateral -- or you'll have to find another lender.

Jenny C. McCune is a contributing editor based in Montana.