Arbor Wins Prestigious Fannie Mae Excellence in Technology Award
Fannie Mae Multifamily recently honored Arbor with its prestigious 2022 DUS Lender Award for Excellence in Technology, citing it as “a constant source of innovative ideas” and “a stalwart partner” in driving “Fannie Mae’s digital transformation for the DUS® community.”
The DUS Lender Specialty Awards, which include categories like Excellence in Technology and Excellence in Duty to Serve, are awarded each year to those organizations that stand above the rest.
Fannie Mae stated in the award citation: “Thank you, Arbor, for your fantastic partnership in helping drive Fannie Mae’s digital transformation for the DUS® community.”
Fannie Mae Names Arbor First in Technology
Arbor’s technology department, which has worked closely with Fannie Mae, was recognized for integrating with its DUS Gateway® application programming interfaces (API) and for being the first lender to onboard single sign-on capabilities, which creates access to the Agency’s applications without the need to enter additional login credentials.
“It’s a huge deal for us,” said Ramandeep Walia, Arbor’s SVP, Solutions Delivery. “It’s a badge on our chest. Fannie Mae didn’t name six or seven lenders. They selected just one. Arbor.”
DUS Gateway® API
Arbor stood out as an early adopter of the DUS Gateway® API. Arbor’s internal systems now can communicate electronically with Fannie Mae systems, enabling lenders to register and submit deals directly to Fannie Mae for consideration.
The transition to the use of DUS Gateway® APIs was an important step forward because it “mitigates the risk of mistakes being made and eliminates the opportunity for human error,” said Walia. Now it is used in conjunction with Arbor’s internal loan origination system to make us more efficient, secure, and nimble in our lending business.
Arbor’s technology department set up a seamless connection to the DUS gateway that maintained business continuity while staying ahead of Fannie Mae’s deadline.
“Fannie Mae has drawn a line in the sand because, on January 1, 2024, lenders above a particular loan volume will be required to use the API for certain parts of the process, said Howard Leiner, Arbor’s EVP, Chief Technology Officer. “We wanted to be proactive in leading by adopting it early.”
Single Sign-On
Fannie Mae’s Excellence in Technology citation also noted that Arbor was the first Fannie Mae lender to onboard its single sign-on capability, which allows Arbor employees to gain access to Fannie Mae applications with just one login.
“It’s a pragmatic approach to credential management,” said Walia.
The change further streamlines the login process and minimizes credential issues.
Partners in Advancing Technology
Through their involvement in Fannie Mae’s Technology and Innovation Steering Committee, members of the IT department have worked directly with Agency leaders and representatives from large commercial lenders to create innovative technological solutions. Additionally, Arbor often assists Fannie Mae with testing and providing feedback on the functionality of new applications before they have been officially rolled out.
“We’ve been an active committee member now for over four years, and if Fannie Mae asks for volunteers for pilots, I volunteer us every time,” said Leiner. For instance, Arbor has been actively engaged in piloting and providing feedback on Fannie Mae’s mobile inspection app and several new quick-win reports on waivers and API adoption.
At Arbor, being first in technology is about more than earning accolades. It is part of an overall business strategy to get the right information to the right person at the right time so the right decision can be made.
Interested in the multifamily real estate investment market? Contact Arbor today to learn about our array of multifamily, single-family rental, and affordable housing financing options or view our multifamily articles and research reports..