One of the discussion topics here in New York at the MBA conference is, just like every other conference, artificial intelligence, and one of the questions is, “Who’s accountable if something goes wrong?” Any one of us in capital markets will tell you that, in the case of Freddie, Fannie, investors, and so on, lenders are held ultimately accountable for anything that goes wrong. In the event of a buyback, or default, a lender can’t point at an AI vendor and say, “You cover the losses.” Make sure that with any software that you buy you know where it came from and how it was designed, and ask lots of “what if” questions. Sprinkling some AI fairy dust over some legacy technology that is years old can cause serious issues. (Today’s podcast can be found here and this week’s ‘casts are sponsored by TransUnion. Discover how data-driven mortgage intelligence is helping lenders identify in-market borrowers, strengthen portfolio performance, personalize outreach, retain customers, and drive smarter growth in an increasingly competitive housing market. Today’s has an interview with Acrisure’s Kristen Britton on how lenders are balancing speed, automation, fraud prevention, and human oversight as remote closings reshape mortgage risk, identity verification, and the future framework of trust in digital transactions.) Lender and Broker Products, Software, and Services The ICE 2026 Borrower Insights Survey shows a 10 percent year-over-year drop in borrowers who say they are definitely satisfied with communication with their mortgage servicer. Pair that with the survey finding that 96 percent of borrowers say personalized communications remain important to them. These findings suggest servicers need tools that go beyond basic payment processing and to deliver relevant, timely outreach that satisfies borrowers and supports retention. ICE Servicing Digital offers the communication tools to help turn transactional relationships into lasting ones, including surfacing personalized refinance scenarios, current rates and tappable equity alerts directly to borrowers. Read the blog for more insights into borrower communication preferences and how to strengthen borrower relationships.
