Ruth Harbin opened Macaw Real Estate Co. on January 1, 2005. At the end of the first year, the business needed additional capital. On behalf of Macaw Real Estate, Ruth applied to First City Bank for a loan of $120,000. Based on Macaw Real Estate's financial statements, which had been prepared on a cash basis, the First City Bank loan officer rejected the loan as too risky.
After receiving the rejection notice, Ruth instructed her accountant to prepare the financial statements on an accrual basis. These statements included $41,500 in accounts receivable and $13,200 in accounts payable. Ruth then instructed her accountant to record an additional $12,500 of accounts receivable for commissions on property for which a contract had been signed on December 28, 2005, but which would not be formally "closed" and the title transferred until January 20, 2006.
Ruth then applied for a $120,000 loan from Second National Bank, using the revised financial statements. On this application, Ruth indicated that she had not previously been rejected for credit.
Discuss the ethical and professional conduct of Ruth Harbin in applying for the loan from Second National Bank.