Headquarters: Bethalto, Illinois • Members: 63,000+ • Assets: ~$964 million. Like many growing credit unions, 1st MidAmerica operated multiple specialized systems for mortgage and core banking. Loan officers used Mortgage Cadence LFC for origination while the servicing team managed loans in FICS MortgageServicer. These platforms — along with the core and CRM — weren’t automatically connected, creating data silos. Staff often re-keyed the same mortgage data into multiple systems — a time-consuming, error-prone process that undermined efficiency and accuracy. To continue delivering exceptional member service, the credit union needed to remove silos and streamline how information flowed across its lending stack.
Eliminating Duplicate Data Entry and Delays. The core pain point was connecting FICS (servicing) with the Mortgage Cadence LFC LOS. Before integration, teams performed duplicate manual data entry: origination details captured in LFC were re-entered into FICS (and sometimes again into the core). The “swivel-chair” workflow created delays and inconsistencies; a missed update in one system left records out of sync in another. Beyond operational drag, loan-data errors risked compliance findings and member communication problems. Productivity suffered as skilled staff spent time copying fields instead of serving members or improving loan quality. 1st MidAmerica needed to bridge the gap between LOS and servicing to eliminate re-keying, cut errors, and speed the lending process.
MortgageExchange® — a cloud-managed integration platform from Mortgage Workspace (Access Business Technologies) — was implemented to connect FICS MortgageServicer and Mortgage Cadence LFC in real time. The MortgageExchange integration enables bi-directional data flow and establishes a direct, rules-based data exchange so updates in one system automatically populate the other with no manual intervention. Business rules maintain consistency and synchronize updates on a dependable cadence, replacing fragile, manual copy-paste steps with seamless automation.
The MortgageExchange solution runs as a secure, cloud-based service managed by ABT — no new servers, no patch juggling. Data in transit between LOS and servicing is encrypted and handled to industry standards. The architecture provides scalability as volumes grow, while positioning the credit union to extend integration to the core and CRM over time. Functionally, LOS and servicing now behave like a single connected system, giving lenders and servicing staff the same up-to-date information across platforms.
The integration delivered a streamlined, bi-directional data flow between origination and servicing, immediately eliminating dual entry and timing mismatches. The credit union realized measurable time and cost savings as manual steps disappeared. With records kept in lockstep across LFC and FICS, accuracy of member and loan data improved markedly — boosting confidence in compliance reporting and audit readiness. Staff redirected hours from clerical work to value-add activities such as expediting approvals and engaging members, improving overall service quality and throughput.
1st MidAmerica CU shows how connecting siloed platforms can modernize lending end-to-end. With the MortgageExchange platform, system silos turned into seamless workflows, enabling faster, more accurate service and data you can trust. The result is an integrated, efficient backbone that delivers immediate operational gains and long-term strategic value. In short, MortgageExchange turns integration challenges into tangible improvements, so teams can focus on what matters most: serving members.