The $1.5 billion GTE Federal Credit Union said it recorded anaverage increase of 83% in monthly lending volume in the secondhalf of 2011.

The 177,000-member Tampa, Fla., institution began using a loanorigination platform from MeridianLink of Costa Mesa, Calif., lastApril, the company and credit union said.

The MeridianLink system allows non-member and members to applyfor loans online and handles indirect and in-branch lending.

“This was part of a strategy to both improve our efficiency withdirect and indirect lending and to cast a wider net and target abroader geographic area,” said Tina Narron, vice president ofMember Consumer Lending at GTE FCU.

Vehicle loans, credit cards and secured and unsecured personalloans are offered through the solution. The only loan products notserviced on it are mortgages and home equity lines, the credit union said.

Cross-selling also is accommodated, the company said.

“When someone applies for membership, the system is set up toread and integrate live credit data, which can be used to qualifyand offer additional financial products – all automatically,” saidEdward Guerin, vice president of Credit Union Development forMeridianLink.

Integration with its Open Solutions Inc. core processing systemhas been seamless, the credit union said.

The company said it now has more than 500 financial institutionusers of its online account opening and lending solutions.