AI Is Completely Transforming Mortgage Underwriting in 2026 | Rick Lang Gateless, President & COO

Описание: In the first "Connect" podcast episode of 2026, California MBA CEO Paul Gelotti sits down with Rick Lang, President & COO of Gateless, to explore how intelligent automation and AI are revolutionizing mortgage underwriting — making the process faster, more efficient, and borrower-friendly.
Rick shares his extensive background from Chase, Bank of America, and Freddie Mac, and explains why Gateless focuses on "intelligent automation" (human-intentional AI with oversight) instead of unregulated generic AI. Discover Gateless's flagship Smart Underwrite solution, which automates credit, income, and asset evaluation for conventional and FHA loans — achieving 70-75% auto-clearing today (aiming for 85% by late 2026) and enabling up to 18-20% of loans to reach full initial underwriting decisions without human touch.

Key highlights from the conversation:

• Real-time data orchestration and micro-decisions for faster loan processing
• Addressing industry pain points: rising costs, capacity constraints, and regulatory complexity
• The future roadmap: expanding to jumbo, VA, and non-QM in 2026
• Change management tips for lenders adopting automation
• How quicker approvals benefit loan officers, realtors, and borrowers in today's instant-gratification world

Whether you're a lender, loan officer, real estate professional, or fintech enthusiast, this episode offers practical insights into modernizing mortgage operations without disrupting your existing tech stack.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome & President Council Sponsor Shoutouts
02:15 - Introducing Rick Lang & Gateless Origin Story
05:40 - What is "Intelligent Automation"?
09:20 - Smart Underwrite: How It Works & Current Performance
14:50 - Vericlear for Income Verification
17:30 - Overcoming Adoption Challenges & Change Management
21:10 - The Future of Mortgage Underwriting in 2026 & Beyond

Watch now and stay ahead of the 2026 mortgage transformation!