Informative Research Technology Platform Expands Options For Lenders

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By Kimberley Haas for The Mortgage Note

A technology platform that delivers data-driven solutions to the lending community is thriving as company leaders expand their options for customers.

Leaders at Informative Research recently announced that they have integrated additional Equifax solutions that leverage The Work Number, which offers credentialed users access to 670 million records to verify income and employment.

The Work Number covers more than 3.1 million employers of all sizes, according to a press release.

The expansion of the verification platform means that lenders will have more choice in how they configure their settings.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Informative Research to integrate additional solutions from The Work Number into their Verification Platform,” Joel Rickman, senior vice president of verification services at Equifax Workforce Solutions, said in a statement.

“This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to innovation and efficiency in verification services within the mortgage industry.”

Informative Research is a Stewart company. Headquartered in Garden Grove, California, it serves over 3,000 mortgage companies, banks, and lenders throughout the United States.

Senior Vice President of Marketing Craig Leabig said they are continuously working to meet the evolving demands of the lending industry.

Leabig recently sat down with The Mortgage Note to talk more about what they do.

“We build platforms that are used to help lenders save money on their consumer data set so whether it’s credit or verifications, our goal is to help lenders manage those expenses,” Leabig said.

He explained that they work with Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, and other data providers to help lenders identify the right time to order credit and verify essential information. Expenses are managed through bundling and pricing strategies.

Leabig said Informative Research continues to perform well in today’s tough real estate market because they respond to feedback from the lenders they work with.

“We evaluate those requests and determine, ‘Hey, this is going to benefit all of our lenders so let’s prioritize this and do that,’” Leabig said.

On Aug. 14, company leaders announced the launch of new alert types to enhance the portfolio monitoring service offered by Informative Research Data Solutions. One of the most significant additions was the PMI removal alert, which notifies a lender when their borrower’s equity position reaches the appropriate level to eliminate PMI and ultimately reduce the borrower’s monthly mortgage payment, according to a press release.

The data solutions team has already partnered with First Option Mortgage in Atlanta, Georgia, to develop an advanced suite of alert types for that company. According to a case study, rate watch alerts have been helpful for Loan Officer Philip Aurich.

“In a constantly changing rate environment, these alerts are invaluable for ensuring timely engagement with potential borrowers,” Aurich said.

Last year, Informative Research had over 400 releases and they are on track to double that in 2024, Leabig said.

When asked about the goals of leaders at Informative Research, Leabig said maintaining their 100% retention rate of strategic clients is first and foremost.

Leabig mentioned the hard work of Kelly Richards, head of sales support, who was one of the industry professionals named to the list of MPA Elite Women 2024 by Mortgage Professional America. This award recognizes exceptional female leaders who have significantly contributed to the mortgage industry.

Leabig said Informative Research’s team is the reason for the company’s success.

“I’ve worked for a lot of different companies in the past and what strikes me about Informative Research are a few things and the pillars I would say are the people that work here. The culture is fantastic. I am so thrilled to work with the colleagues that I work with each and every day. We all get along extremely well and we all roll up our sleeves to get the job done.” Leabig said.