Imagine your credit union’s lending team entering the same borrower information into multiple systems, double-checking data across different platforms, and correcting typos that slip in along the way. This isn’t just tedious – it’s costly. These manual, siloed workflows create delays, introduce errors, and sap resources that could be better spent serving members. For credit unions, the hidden costs of poor integration stack up in many forms: compliance risks from data inaccuracies, duplicated effort, slower service, and frustrated staff. The need for seamless integration and automation in mortgage processing has never been clearer.
AllSouth Federal Credit Union, headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina, serves a large community of members with a focus on mortgage lending. With approximately 118,000 members and $1.42 billion in assets across 23 branch locations, AllSouth FCU is a thriving institution that prides itself on member service and efficiency. Like many credit unions its size, AllSouth faces the challenge of managing complex financial operations while delivering a smooth experience to members. Mortgage lending is a core service – and also one where operational inefficiencies can directly impact member satisfaction. AllSouth’s leadership recognized that to uphold its service standards, it needed to tackle a key pain point in the mortgage department: disconnected systems.
AllSouth’s mortgage process was hindered by a classic integration problem. The credit union relied on Fiserv DNA as its core banking system and Mortgage Cadence Loan Fulfillment Center (LFC) as its loan origination system (LOS). Unfortunately, these two critical platforms weren’t natively connected. Every new mortgage application or update required duplicate manual data entry – information had to be keyed into Fiserv’s core and then again into Mortgage Cadence, or vice versa. This “swivel-chair” workflow led to significant inefficiencies. Employees spent extra hours retyping data, which slowed down operations and introduced opportunities for human error. Even a small typo could cause inconsistencies between systems, potentially delaying loan processing or causing compliance checks to flag errors. The siloed systems also meant there were timing delays; data in one system might not reflect in the other until someone manually updated it, hindering real-time visibility. For AllSouth, it became clear that streamlining this back-office process was crucial to improving member service efficiency. They needed a way to bridge the gap between the core and LOS – automating the data exchange so staff could focus on members, not paperwork.
AllSouth FCU turned to the MortgageExchange® platform from Mortgage Workspace to break down its system silos. MortgageExchange is a secure, cloud-based solution that connects disparate systems and automates data transfer. Using MortgageExchange integration, the credit union implemented a direct link between Fiserv DNA and Mortgage Cadence LFC. In practice, this means that data entered in one system automatically populates in the other, without any manual intervention. MortgageExchange created a rules-based data flow between the core and LOS, effectively establishing one source of truth for mortgage information across both platforms.
This integration was more than a simple data pipe – it was an intelligent workflow. MortgageExchange’s connectors and rules ensured that data passed between Fiserv and Mortgage Cadence accurately and in real time, enforcing data validation and business rules along the way. Importantly, the solution runs in the cloud, which reduces the need for on-site servers or custom code on AllSouth’s premises. AllSouth’s IT team didn’t have to build a custom interface or maintain separate databases; MortgageExchange handles the heavy lifting, encrypting sensitive data in transit and at rest to keep information secure. By entrusting the integration to a managed service, AllSouth gained a solution that is scalable, secure, and continuously monitored by experts.
After deploying the MortgageExchange solution, AllSouth FCU’s mortgage operations experienced a dramatic improvement. The data exchange between the core and LOS is now automatic and instantaneous, eliminating the lag that staff and members used to endure. Key outcomes include:
AllSouth’s turnaround was evident: what used to be a cumbersome, error-prone mortgage workflow became an effortless, real-time data exchange. According to the case study, the project “greatly reduced the risk of errors” and yielded significant time and cost savings, allowing staff to devote more energy to members and growth instead of data entry. Integration with MortgageExchange enabled AllSouth to do more with the resources they had – a win for both the credit union and its members.
AllSouth Federal Credit Union’s success story is part of a broader trend in the credit union industry. As member expectations climb and competition stiffens, digital transformation is no longer a buzzword – it’s a necessity. A key lesson from AllSouth’s journey is that integration is a catalyst for this transformation. By connecting core banking systems with lending platforms, credit unions can unlock new levels of efficiency and accuracy in their operations. Seamless systems mean front-line staff can trust the data, compliance teams get consistent information, and members enjoy faster, smoother service.
The experience at AllSouth FCU shows that investing in robust integration isn’t just about IT plumbing – it’s about enabling people to work smarter and deliver better service. When mortgage platforms, core systems, and other applications share data freely, everyone benefits: errors drop, speed increases, and employees can focus on higher-value activities. Moreover, a secure integration platform enhances compliance by reducing manual touchpoints that often cause mistakes.
For credit union leaders evaluating their next strategic move, AllSouth’s story poses an important question: How many inefficiencies lurk in your organization’s disconnected systems, and what would it mean to eliminate them? By embracing solutions like MortgageExchange and prioritizing interoperability, credit unions can turn operational pain points into opportunities for improvement. In an era where member experience is paramount, integrated systems give credit unions a competitive edge. AllSouth’s integration triumph is proof that with the right technology partnerships, even longstanding workflow headaches can be transformed into streamlined, scalable processes – paving the way for a more efficient and innovative future in credit union lending.