Blend, the leading digital banking origination platform, is excited to announce the successful implementation of its Close solution at SouthState Bank (SouthState). This collaboration has resulted in significant improvements to both borrower experience and operational efficiency.
“Blend offers a variety of eClose scenarios, including hybrid options without an e-note, hybrids with an e-note, and full RON closings with a Blend notary. This flexibility was a clear benefit for us,” stated Shane Horan, SouthState’s Director of Mortgage Strategic Initiatives.
SouthState, a regional bank with $44 billion in assets and over 1 million customers throughout the southeastern United States, turned to Blend’s Close solution to address the inefficiencies of its traditional paper-based closing process. By adopting Blend’s Close technology, which is seamlessly integrated into the mortgage platform, SouthState has transformed its mortgage operations to support all types of closings, from conventional to fully online with remote notary services.
Key Partnership Outcomes
Enhancing Customer Experience with Faster, More Convenient Closings
With Blend’s Close solution, SouthState has significantly reduced closing times, enabling some fully virtual closings to be completed in as little as 20 minutes—down from over an hour for traditional wet-sign closings. This capability allows customers to close loans remotely from anywhere, providing vital flexibility and convenience, especially for military personnel deployed overseas and borrowers who cannot attend in-person closings.
Unlocking Loan Officer Capacity and Strengthening Borrower Relationships
The expedited closing experience has not only improved borrower satisfaction but has also allowed SouthState’s loan officers to spend more time nurturing relationships with clients rather than managing administrative tasks. The streamlined process has also made in-person hybrid closings faster, with fewer documents required for signing.
Shane Horan added, “Our loan officers value face-to-face time with borrowers and don’t want to miss the chance to foster those relationships. Now they can engage virtually and still achieve the same benefits in a much shorter timeframe. Even for hybrid closings, there are fewer documents to sign, making the in-person process quicker too.”
Boosting Operational Efficiency with Shorter Loan Cycle Times
The ability to close loans more rapidly and reach a broader audience of remote borrowers has also enhanced SouthState’s financial and operational performance. Since implementing Blend Close, the mortgage team has experienced substantial gains in operational efficiency, leading to overall cost reductions. As a Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac seller servicer, SouthState can now send loans to Fannie and Freddie in just 24 to 48 hours—compared to the previous timeframe of five to seven business days before adopting a digital closing solution.
For more details, read the full case study here.