CHICAGO–A new mortgage lending feature to review credit reports, fraud prevention tools, and cellular services are among the newest offerings from solutions providers featured here in this CU Shopper. Here is a look at some of the new options for credit unions.
TransUnion Introduces Mortgage Credit Review Tool
CHICAGO — TransUnion has introduced a mortgage lending feature that allows lenders to review credit reports before purchasing credit scores, a change the company said could reduce origination costs.
The First Look Functionality for Mortgage lets lenders initially buy a credit report alone or with a selected score, then add scores later if needed. Under qualifying conditions, lenders can obtain additional scores without paying for another credit report.
The feature supports soft and hard credit inquiries, mortgage resellers and automated underwriting workflows used by government-sponsored enterprises and the Federal Housing Administration, TransUnion said.
The rollout follows the company’s decision to extend 99-cent pricing for VantageScore 4.0 mortgage scores through 2028. TransUnion said it will provide that score at no additional charge when purchased alongside a FICO score.
Satyan Merchant, TransUnion’s mortgage business leader, said the approach could help lenders reserve credit-scoring expenses for applications that advance through the loan process.
FirstClose, Cotality Expand Home Equity Lending Integration
AUSTIN, Texas — FirstClose and property data provider Cotality have expanded their partnership to offer an integrated home equity lending platform that the companies say can help lenders close loans in as little as seven days.
The offering combines FirstClose’s point-of-sale and order management technology with Cotality’s property records, valuations, flood determinations, tax, title and property condition information. It is designed for banks, credit unions and independent mortgage banks.
The companies said the integration allows lenders to manage applications, underwriting, valuation, title, closing and funding through a single workflow, reducing duplicate data entry and manual processing. It also connects with existing loan origination systems.
Cotality said its property intelligence covers more than 99% of U.S. residential properties. The combined system can also help lenders identify home equity opportunities among existing borrowers.
FirstClose CEO Tedd Smith said the partnership is intended to simplify operations while speeding home equity lending. The platform is available for deployment to clients of both companies.
Alkami Says BioCatch Users Prevented $263M in Fraud
PLANO, Texas — Alkami Technology said financial institutions using BioCatch through its digital banking platform prevented more than $263 million in fraud during 2025, citing data supplied by BioCatch.
BioCatch’s account takeover protection technology analyzes device, behavioral and session signals to identify activity that differs from a user’s normal banking patterns. Financial institutions receive risk scores and establish their own thresholds for intervention.
Alkami released the figures during Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Brad Cranford, the company’s director of product management, said the technology helps institutions identify potential account takeovers before suspicious activity produces losses.
The company cited two customer examples:
- Gate City Bank reported a 97% account takeover capture rate and $650,000 in deterred fraud losses over six months.
- Raiz Federal Credit Union reported preventing more than $286,000 in fraud during its first year using BioCatch alongside other security measures.
The figures are company-reported and were not independently verified.
Quavo Launches Research Hub for Card Dispute Trends
WILMINGTON, Del. — Quavo has launched Quavo Labs, a research hub designed to give banks and credit unions a broader view of fraud, merchant and payment dispute trends.
The company said its analysis found that issuers’ win rates in digital subscription chargebacks, including streaming services, fell 35% over 26 days even as dispute volumes remained largely unchanged. Quavo said the shift was difficult to detect from any one institution’s records.
Quavo Labs draws on anonymized information from a network processing more than 25 million disputes annually and supporting more than 650 brands and issuers. The company said it will publish monthly data analyses and quarterly merchant insights and performance reports.
Quavo identified several potential responses for issuers, including revising chargeback forecasts, strengthening claim documentation and comparing trends across merchant categories.
Ron Rybicki, Quavo’s vice president of data and analytics, said pooled information can reveal patterns that appear insignificant within individual portfolios.
Quavo said reports will disclose their sample sizes, comparisons and methodological limitations without identifying individual institutions or cardholders.
Members Mobile Reports 12 Credit Union Letters of Intent
BROOMFIELD, Colo. — Members Mobile said it has obtained letters of intent from 12 credit unions interested in offering its nationwide mobile phone service as a member benefit.
The credit unions, which were not identified in the announcement, operate across 14 states and collectively serve more than 2.5 million members, according to the company. Letters of intent do not necessarily represent finalized service agreements.
Members Mobile already has partnerships with Michigan State University Federal Credit Union and Safe 1 Credit Union.
The company’s offering includes 4G/5G mobile plans, support services and monthly cash rewards deposited into participating members’ credit union accounts. Members can retain compatible phones and existing phone numbers, the company said.
Members Mobile also said its app-based platform integrates with MeridianLink to connect mobile service enrollment with digital credit union account opening.
Co-founder Luis Jimenez-Tunon said the prospective partnerships could make the service available to a substantially larger credit union audience. The company did not announce implementation dates or identify the 12 institutions.
TransUnion Details Mortgage Scoring Cost Strategy
CHICAGO — TransUnion said its new First Look Functionality for Mortgage is intended to limit unnecessary credit-scoring expenses by allowing lenders to make early decisions using borrowers’ credit reports.
Lenders can begin with a report alone or a report and selected score, then request additional scores later in underwriting. When matching and eligibility requirements are met, they will not have to purchase a duplicate credit report, the company said.
The system accommodates soft and hard inquiries, works through mortgage resellers and is compatible with government-sponsored enterprise and Federal Housing Administration automated underwriting systems.
TransUnion said lenders can also incorporate trended credit data, bankruptcy risk indicators, streamlined mortgage program eligibility and optional income and employment verification tools.
The rollout coincides with TransUnion’s extension of 99-cent VantageScore 4.0 mortgage pricing through 2028. The company said that score is available at no additional charge when obtained alongside a FICO score.
Satyan Merchant, TransUnion’s mortgage business leader, said lenders can use the tools to focus resources on applications most likely to proceed to closing.
Glia Names Four Winners of 2026 Catalyst Awards
NEW YORK — Banking technology company Glia has named four financial institutions winners of its 2026 Catalyst Awards, recognizing reported improvements in customer service and operational efficiency from artificial intelligence.
The recipients and results cited by Glia are:
- Heartland Credit Union: The Harmonizer Award. Glia said AI saved more than 6,000 staff hours annually, cut average waits for human operators 40% and reduced abandoned calls 54%.
- Live Oak Bank: The Pacesetter Award. The bank reported 93% first-contact resolution while more than doubling interactions handled entirely by AI.
- Thomaston Savings Bank: The Energizer Award. Glia said the bank saved more than 1,440 staff hours, plus an estimated 222 hours through AI quality assurance.
- Alliant Credit Union: The Prodigy Award. The credit union launched Glia in eight weeks, supported nearly 300,000 digital interactions and created more than 10,500 hours of annual staff capacity.
Glia CEO Dan Michaeli said the awards reflect growing use of AI to handle routine tasks and support employees. The results were provided by Glia and its customers.
