SDS Applications Ltd Continues Expansion of Web-Enabled Solutions for Packagers

SDS Applications Ltd, a leading provider of mortgage processing technology, today announced that The Finance Centre is to use the โ€˜SDS Maps' software for its mortgage application processing.







Based in Warrington, The Finance Centre is one of the UK's largest dedicated sub-prime packaging companies and has been delivering sub-prime deals for over 12 years.







โ€œThe Finance Centre is committed to providing the highest quality service to brokers and technology is an integral part of our service proposition.



โ€ said Wayne Smethurst, partner of The Finance Centre. โ€œWe selected โ€˜SDS Maps' because of the wide range of cutting-edge technology that it provides, which will enable us to ensure service excellence well into the future. By creating an automated solution for quotations, illustrations, application entry, tracking and processing, โ€˜SDS Maps' provides us with a springboard to continuous improvement in how we meet our introducers' needs."







'SDS Maps' provides an end-to-end solution for automating the entire mortgage pre-completion process.



The system features workflow & task management, status tracking, document production, powerful system maintenance facilities and on-line support services.







โ€˜SDS Maps' will allow introducers in any location to access the system through a browser interface. Introducers will be able to see all their cases in a summary view, begin online mortgage applications, create illustrations online and submit applications for processing. Because the system is 100% browser-based, there is no software to install.



Introducers just point their browser to the appropriate web address and begin using the new functionality.







โ€œWe are delighted that The Finance Centre has selected the โ€˜SDS Maps' system. It's a great fit with their business goals of increasing new business whilst improving customer service and lowering overall costsโ€, said Barry Yager, SDS's Commercial Director.







The application is currently in the user-testing phase and is due to go live at the end of May.















About The Finance Centre







The Finance Centre was established by Wayne Smethurst in 1991, as a secured loans brokerage.



In 1996 the business entered the mortgage packaging market and Wayne was joined by fellow partners Andrew Brown and Ron Taylor in 1998.







The Finance Centre has focussed on the sub-prime mortgage market and now provides a nationwide packaging service to brokers throughout the UK. During the past year The Finance Centre has trebled its turnover and has ambitious plans for continued rapid growth in the future. The Finance Centre is one of the few mortgage packagers to receive ISO 9001 Quality Accreditation.



The business is based in Warrington.







About SDS Applications Ltd



SDS Applications Ltd is considered one of the mortgage industry's foremost providers of mortgage lending software solutions. The company offers an integrated suite of mortgage processing solutions for lenders and mortgage packagers.



SDS MAPS is now used extensively throughout packaging community and is fast becoming the โ€˜industry standard'. SDS clients include The Finance Centre, Solent Mortgage Services, County Mortgages Group, The Mortgage Operation (TMO), Enterprise Homeloans, GMAC RFC and several regional building societies, with implementations at more leading companies to be announced over the coming months.



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For further information please contact:







Justin Belcher







SDS Applications Ltd





Tel: 01494 778863



press@sdsapps.co.uk







Or visit the Internet site at www.mortgage-systems.com

Leading Regional Mutual Selects SDS Maps' to Streamline Mortgage Application Processing

9th October 2002, SDS Applications Ltd, one of the mortgage industry's leading providers of mortgage lending software solutions today announced that the Vernon Building Society is to use the โ€˜SDS Maps' software for its mortgage application processing. Vernon Building Society has nine branches in the Cheshire area, backed by a local agency network.







โ€œWe were impressed with the powerful architecture of the SDS system,โ€ said David Eccles, Systems Manager at Vernon, โ€œAfter reviewing many solutions, we chose โ€˜SDS Maps' because it offered the greatest flexibility for our needs.



The system is very easy to customise which allows us to meet the changing needs of our businessโ€.







โ€˜SDS Maps' is a fully integrated, web-based solution, handling a mortgage application from customer enquiry through to completion. The system features integrated 'mortgage application specific' workflow, case tracking, powerful document production facilities and customisable management information (MIS) functionality. It is capable of producing pre-application mortgage illustrations and has been designed to be flexible enough to handle future changes to compliance regulation.



At draw down, cases will be transferred electronically to the Vernon's accounting and administration system.







The Vernon are also planning to take advantage of the systems powerful e-commerce functions, these include;







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A 'Broker Portal' where introducers can login and access product searches, create new applications, track the status of applications in progress and view commissions earned and pending.



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Mortgage search facilities, where potential customers can find out how much they can borrow and details of the mortgage products that best suit their needs.



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Online applications to โ€˜Offer in Principle'. (Applications do not have to be completed in one sitting, customers can return to a partially completed form at any time, an application could even be started in a branch and completed later on a home PC).



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Compliant online quotations



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Status Tracking facilities







The application is currently in the user-testing phase and is due to go live in November.











โ€˜SDS MAPS' forms part of SDS's integrated suite of mortgage systems that include;



โ€˜IFAMAPS' โ€" Online Broker Support Module, โ€˜EMAPS' - for interactive on-line applications with status tracking and โ€˜MyPage' โ€" the customisable e-banking module.



About Vernon Building Society



Founded in 1924 in Stockport, Cheshire, the Vernon provides competitive housing finance, savings and investment products. As a mutual, the Vernon's philosophy is to provide a responsive and individual service to it's members.







About SDS Applications Ltd



SDS Applications Ltd is considered one of the mortgage industry's foremost providers of mortgage lending software solutions. The company offers an integrated suite of mortgage processing solutions for lenders and mortgage packagers.



Recent Clients in the Mortgage & Lending sector include GMAC RFC, Solent Mortgage Services, The Chesham Building Society, Barnsley Building Society, Cambridge Building Society, Universal Building Society and National Counties Building Society.







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For further information please contact:







Justin Belcher



SDS Applications Ltd



Tel: 01494 778863



press@sdsapps.co.uk















Or visit the Internet site at www.sdsmortgages.com.

Barnsley Building Society UpgradesMortgage Application Processing to SDS Maps'

โ€œWe selected SDS's processing system over several other solutions,โ€ said Steve Lofthouse, Assistant General Manager (Systems) at Barnsley, โ€œSDS Maps has the flexibility and web-enabled technology we were looking for, and it combines all our mortgage processes into one system.โ€







โ€˜SDS Maps' is a fully integrated, thin-client solution, handling a mortgage application from customer enquiry through to completion.







Barnsley plan to take advantage of the system's powerful architecture to deliver the following



E-commerce functions:







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A 'Broker Portal' where IFAs and introducers can login and access product searches, create new applications, track the status of applications in progress and view commissions earned and pending.



ยท

Mortgage search facilities, where potential customers can find out how much they can borrow and details of the mortgage products that best suit their needs.







ยท

Online applications to โ€˜Offer in Principle'. (Applications do not have to be completed in one sitting, customers can return to a partially completed form at any time, an application could even be started in a branch and completed later on a home PC).







ยท

Compliant online quotations.



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Status Tracking.







The system features integrated 'mortgage application specific' workflow that systemises the underwriting process helping staff to focus on service provision. A task creation and management system monitors the whole process and allocates tasks to the most appropriate member of staff in order of timed priorities. Workflow will also enable case tracking to take place as all tasks are electronically recorded and the system will know at what point of the process an application is sitting.



Other key features of the system:







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Powerful document production facilities are an integral part of the system. All documents relating to an application are generated and merged in Microsoft Word format.







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The solution provides management with customisable management information (MIS) functionality, the system features a structured SQL database whereby staff can design and schedule their own reports using standard reporting tools.







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โ€˜SDS Maps' is capable of producing pre-application mortgage illustrations and has been designed to be flexible enough to handle any future changes to compliance regulation.



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SDS's solution allows two-way data transfers using Open XML.







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At draw down, cases then can be transferred electronically to the accounting and administration system.







โ€œSDS's staff are so easy to work with,โ€ continued Lofthouse, โ€œThey are professional, organised, helpful and have an in-depth knowledge of mortgage processing and the UK mortgage market. SDS's solution will allow for improved performance and functionality, which ultimately saves us both time and money.



I feel we have made the right choice in selecting SDS.โ€







The application is currently in the user-testing phase and is due to go live at the end of April.







โ€˜SDS Maps' forms part of SDS's integrated suite of mortgage systems which include;



โ€˜E-maps' & โ€˜IFA-Maps'- for interactive on-line applications, status tracking and IFA support and



โ€˜MyPage' โ€" the customisable e-banking module, which allows Lenders to provide affordable e banking services to their customers















About Barnsley Building Society



The Barnsley Building Society was formed in 1853, with nine branches in the Yorkshire area, backed by an agency network covering North Yorkshire to Warwickshire; the Society prides itself on its 'local' attitude to its members' requirements.



For additional information, contact Steve Lofthouse on 01226 733999 or visit the company's Website at www.barnsley-bs.co.uk







About SDS Applications Ltd



SDS specialises in the provision of systems and services to mortgage lenders. Since our inception in 1997 SDS have introduced new and innovative systems to the UK mortgage market, providing high quality applications exploiting the business advantages available using thin-client Internet technology. We have quickly become established as a leading supplier to this sector as a result of our cost effective solutions.



SDS leads the industry by putting its customers' success first.







Recent Clients in the Mortgage & Lending sector include GMAC RFC, Cambridge Building Society, Universal Building Society and National Counties Building Society.







For more information, contact Justin Belcher or Barry Yager on 01494 778863, via email at press@sdsapps.co.uk, or visit the Internet site at www.sdsmortgages.com