Credit unions that want to remain competitive in housing financeover the next decade will likely have to confront the issue of howto add technology to their mortgage loan origination systems.

Mortgage issuers use loan origination systems to manage the loanprocess from the initial taking of the application through to theclosing of the loan.

“In general the industry has moved the application process tothe Internet very well,” said Robert Dorsa, president of theAmerican Credit Union Mortgage Association. “Remember thestereotype of the member being able to apply for a mortgage fromhis kitchen at 3:00 [in the morning]? Where there has not been asmuch progress has been in the middle of the process, the work ofcollecting and verifying documents and all the other work ofunderwriting which has not moved online as quickly.”