How Digital Voting Tools Can Speed Up Loan Approval Processes

Sponsored by OnBoard

Like most other credit unions, $146 million Abbey Credit Union, Vandalia, Ohio, generates revenue from its loan activity. Faster or slower time to approve a loan can mean the difference between revenue gained or lost.

In the past, Abbey CU’s process was slow and inefficient:

• The commercial lender would take the physical loan application and meet with Abbey’s president/CEO, Dean Pielemeier, a CUES member.
• The two would review the loan application.
• Once the loan application was approved or rejected, the lender would fax it to the third member of the loan committee with their recommendation.
• The board member would sign and fax the application back.

Now, a more efficient workflow has replaced this time-consuming process:

• Loan applications are uploaded to the OnBoard portal. All stakeholders are notified in real time.
• Using electronic voting through the portal, loans are quickly approved or rejected.
• Each member of the loan committee signs the application using e-signature functionality.
• The portal automatically sends notifications to all stakeholders.
• The funds are dispersed quickly.

This more efficient workflow means the loan committee is spending less time in meetings and handling paperwork and more time generating new business. 

“I want to keep our commercial lender out on the street drumming up business,” Dean says. “This allows him to do that more. It’s a big positive return.”

Connect Committees, Increase Engagement

The right online board portal doesn’t just make loan approvals easy and convenient. It streamlines documents and communication throughout the operation.

$19 billion Alliant Credit Union, Chicago, boasts an 11-member board that’s long been dedicated to delivering value to its members by integrating technology into every aspect of the credit union.

Providing anytime, anywhere, digital access to board materials was central to a larger strategic shift occurring at the organization. That meant managing governance through expanded committee work.

By collaborating across teams, time zones and continents via an online portal, the CU’s board can arrive at more deeply considered decisions.

The Bottom Line on Digital Voting Tools

Board portals have become increasingly vital tools for boards to operate effectively. They provide features that enable boards to communicate securely; prepare for meetings more efficiently; access information in a single, secure location; conduct seamless board voting; and make sound decisions more quickly without sacrificing deliberation.

A board portal can eliminate the time-consuming manual processes of loan approvals, ensuring a faster and more productive process. All the while, they ensure security with data encryption and multi-factor user authentication.

If you or your credit union board seek to improve efficiency, security, and convenience throughout the loan approval process, consider investing in online board voting tools to make the process smoother and faster for everyone involved.

Characteristics of a Good Board Portal

No two online board voting tools are alike. Some offer the necessary features to conduct a smooth board vote; others don’t. 

When your credit union board shops for a web-based board voting tool, seek out the following characteristics:

• Permission controls. These enhance the security of the board voting process by allowing access to specific users based on their needs. As an example, permission controls protect the anonymity of a vote by restricting voting members from seeing real-time results or other users’ voting data, which could sway their own vote.
• Automated compliance. Online board voting tools should comply with regulations related to your credit union’s voting process, configurations, security measures and the credit union industry. 
• Cross-device support. Whichever online board voting platform you choose should have cross-device support capabilities. It should be accessible across various types of devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers, so board members have options on how to take part in the voting process and can do so from anywhere.

Rob Kunzler is OnBoard’s chief marketing officer. With more than 20 years of executive marketing leadership experience, his responsibilities include developing and executing a strategic marketing plan focused on demand generation and brand elevation.