There are over 300,000 loan officers in the US. Each with varying roadblocks to overcome every single day. 

Your own loan officers perform complex and critical functions for your credit union. They must be experts on the full suite of loans you offer, know qualifying requirements, and assess the financial condition and overall risk of the applicant. Their work, if done properly, generates significant revenue for your organization, so it's important to give them the support they need. Here are five common hurdles CU loan officers face and how you can help eliminate them.

What Does a Loan Officer Do for Credit Unions?

Contributes Directly to Growth

Loan officers are vital for credit unions, attracting new members through diverse loan products and retaining their interest. By approving loans for purposes like home, auto, and personal loans, they contribute to expanding the credit union's portfolio, boosting stability and growth potential.

Increases Revenue

Loan officers boost credit unions' revenue by approving and disbursing loans, generating interest income—the primary revenue source. They also play a key role in designing diverse loan products that cater to members' financial needs, attracting more members and increasing revenue streams.

10 Common Challenges for Loan Officers

10. Accuracy

Errors throughout the loan process are becoming a thing of the past. Lending software, electronic documents, and e-Signatures have simplified the process... but there is still the potential inaccuracies because of:

• Incomplete Documentation
• Inaccurate Information
• Failure to Verify Information

Your loan origination system should allow management to make specific fields required before proceeding to the next step in the workflow. This can help address missing information in the moment, instead of discovering the issue later in the process and asking the member to return to the branch.

9. Competition

Loan officers grapple with intense competition from diverse financial institutions and lenders. This demands constant vigilance and adaptability to stay relevant in a crowded market. The pressure to attract and retain clients is relentless, requiring loan officers to navigate a challenging landscape where differentiation is key. The persistent need to outshine competitors adds complexity to an already demanding role, making it a prominent roadblock for loan officers.

8. Customer Expectations

Loan officers face a significant roadblock in meeting customer expectations. Clients harbor anticipations around swift loan approval times, favorable interest rates, and impeccable customer service. Balancing these expectations demands a delicate equilibrium, as delays or dissatisfaction can jeopardize client relationships. Loan officers navigate this challenge by aligning operational efficiency, competitive rates, and exceptional service, striving to meet and surpass the ever-heightening expectations of their clientele.

7. Signing the right forms

Your CU likely offers a range of loans, each requiring specific forms that relate to the type of loan. Those requirements change enough over time that it can be daunting for a loan officer to keep current. Your credit union lending software should allow for customization or grouping of forms per loan type. This takes the stress away from loan officers needing to remember what forms are required for each loan.

6. Customer Relationship Management

Navigating the intricate terrain of customer relationship management poses a formidable challenge for loan officers. The imperative to build and sustain robust relationships with clients requires a nuanced understanding of their unique financial needs. The task extends beyond conventional transactions, necessitating personalized loan solutions.

The demand for a delicate balance between professionalism and personalized service adds complexity, making effective customer relationship management a central roadblock for loan officers.

5. Signatures

Signatures have long been a bottleneck in the lending process. Especially when your member isn't present. Don't inconvenience your member by asking them to come into the branch from 9 to 5. Offering e-Signatures for loan documents can completely eliminate one of the most time-consuming pieces of the loan process. Not only will your members appreciate you respecting their time, but loan officers will spend less time chasing people to complete their forms.

4. Third-Party Add-ons

From pulling credit scores to emailing forms to be signed, 3rd party applications are a hassle and often require separate logins and passwords. This is an unnecessary hurdle in the process that can be easily streamlined. Invest in complete technology that is all-inclusive. If 3rd parties need to be involved, then they should be directly tied into the loan origination system and seamless to the end user. 

3. Override Required

In many credit unions, there are fail safes in place to protect the CU from loan officers granting loans without manager approval. This is a smart way to protect the integrity of the institution, but can also create bottlenecks in the process if the approving manager is not on site at all times. Your credit union lending software should allow for remote overrides. This enables loan officers to submit the override request when the proper authority isn't in the branch, and the override can be approved remotely from another branch.

2. Loan Approval Delays

Loan approval delays can be a frustrating and disempowering experience for loan officers. Loan officers are constantly faced with the looming possibility of delays in the loan approval process, which can arise from issues with documentation, verification challenges, or unexpected changes in borrower circumstances.

Loan officers must navigate obstacles with attention to detail and a proactive approach. Delays in loan approval can hinder their professional journey.

1. Regulatory Compliance

Loan officers grapple with the formidable challenge of regulatory compliance in an environment marked by constant changes in financial regulations. Ensuring that all loan processes align with intricate legal requirements demands unwavering diligence.

Non-compliance with evolving regulations is a pervasive roadblock for loan officers, emphasizing the critical nature of maintaining integrity and legality in their operations.

Technology Solutions for Loan Officers

eSignatures

eSignatures have redefined the role of loan officers, eliminating the need for physical document signatures. This streamlined process allows members to sign documents electronically, saving time for both parties. The shift to digital signatures enhances operational efficiency, aligning with the broader trend of digital transformation for a more accessible and modernized loan application process.

Automated Features

Loan officers play an essential part for your credit union's portfolio health, especially when it comes to high-value loans, personalization, complex situations, and relationship building. However, with an overwhelming workload, loan officers should not spend their days doing monotonous manual things that can be automated. Let them focus their time on member relationships and improving loan quality and quantity. 

Help Your Loan Officers Overcome These Challenges

Providing your loan officers with modern resources and technology that makes their job less cumbersome will increase efficiency and consequently boost the key ratio of loan originations per employee. The less time they waste on shuffling papers and filling in missing information, the more time they can spend on selling new loans. Advanced credit union lending software can be an invaluable tool to your entire loan division.