Gone are the days when speed and precision were simply nice-to-haves — they’re now the foundation of a lender’s survival. In a market shaped by rising borrower expectations, economic pressure, and the need for faster, more intelligent decision-making, innovation is no longer optional. In this exclusive docuseries series, we sit down with forward-looking mortgage leaders who aren’t waiting for change — they’re building it.
Powered by Polly, this series showcases the people and platforms changing how pricing, automation, and strategy intersect. Each episode takes you inside a different lending organization to share a unique perspective on the industry and how they’re not just surviving, but thriving in a rapidly changing landscape. Along the way, they share how technologies like Polly’s Product Pricing Engine support those goals — not as a silver bullet but as a tool within a broader modernization effort.
This Spotlight series was produced by HousingWire and is presented by Polly.
Leading Lenders: How New American Funding is Scaling Without Sacrificing Service
This video marks the first installment in HousingWire’s Spotlight Series, a four-part feature showcasing leading lenders across the mortgage industry. In this debut episode, Kristin Ankeny Bickenbach, EVP of Secondary Marketing at New American Funding, shares her journey in mortgage lending and offers a candid look at how NAF is tackling today’s toughest market challenges head-on. From rising interest rates to increasing competition, Krisin walks us through the strategies, technologies, and cultural values that set NAF apart — and deliver results.
Episode 1 of Leading Lenders: Risk, Reward, and Reinvention is powered by Polly.
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Leading Lenders: Remarkable Mortgage’s Customer First and Tech Forward Approach to Growth
This video is the second installment in HousingWire’s Spotlight Series, a four-part feature showcasing leading lenders across the mortgage industry. In this episode Charlie Fleming, President and Co-Founder of Remarkable Mortgage, explores how his team has scaled year-over-year while maintaining operational excellence. Fleming’s strategy centers on empowering LOs to act as trusted advisors, guiding clients through homeownership with clarity and care.
Episode 2 of Leading Lenders: Risk, Reward, and Reinvention is powered by Polly.
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Leading Lenders: ResiCentral’s Tech-Driven Growth and “Speed with a Smile” Strategy.
This video is the third installment in HousingWire’s Spotlight Series, a four-part feature showcasing leading lenders across the mortgage industry. In this episode of Leading Lenders, ResiCentral President Brian Permutt reveals how the company tripled its volume from 2023 to 2024 — without hiring a single new team member. This wasn’t luck; it was the result of a laser focus on automation, efficient tech integration, and strategic use of the Polly pricing engine.
Episode 3 of Leading Lenders: Risk, Reward, and Reinvention is powered by Polly.
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Leading Lenders: How Mechanics Bank Built a High-Touch, High-Tech Lending Machine
This video is the fourth installment in HousingWire’s Spotlight Series, a four-part feature showcasing leading lenders across the mortgage industry. This episode featuring Daniel Watt, Executive Vice President and Director of Mortgage and Consumer Lending at Mechanics Bank, explores how the company is reinventing the mortgage experience. With a hybrid lending model and a tech stack built for scale, Watt’s team is breaking records — even in a high-rate environment.
Episode 4 of Leading Lenders: Risk, Reward, and Reinvention is powered by Polly.
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