Expanding Horizons in Commercial Real Estate Lending
In a significant move to enhance the efficiency of commercial real estate (CRE) lending, Baker Hill, a premier provider of commercial lending technology for financial institutions, has strengthened its partnership with Built, an innovative AI-powered platform. This collaboration aims to streamline the entire lifecycle of CRE lending, from origination to portfolio management.
A New Era of Integration
This expanded alliance effectively integrates Baker Hill's robust origination technology with Built's specialized services in construction loan administration and portfolio oversight. The seamless connectivity facilitated by this integration allows crucial data—including loan information, borrower profiles, property details, project budgets, asset performances, and more—to flow fluidly between the two platforms. As a result, banks and credit unions will gain a comprehensive view of their CRE operations without the need to switch their existing systems.
Addressing Challenges in CRE Lending
According to data from the Federal Reserve, U.S. commercial banks currently manage over $3.1 trillion in commercial real estate loans, which includes approximately $454 billion attributed to construction and land development loans. Despite this vast portfolio, many financial institutions struggle with managing post-closing workflows effectively. They often resort to using spreadsheets, emails, and shared drives for managing critical processes such as budget approvals, project inspections, and asset performance—methods that are notoriously inefficient and error-prone.
Andy Ivankovich, Chairman and CEO of Baker Hill, emphasizes the importance of continuity in lending processes, stating, "CRE lending shouldn't become a manual process the moment a loan closes. Our clients need the same efficiency, visibility, and control after closing that they have during origination." This sentiment underscores the necessity of maintaining streamlined operations throughout the entire lending cycle.
Benefits of the Partnership
The partnership between Baker Hill and Built is set to provide effective solutions to the challenges faced by CRE lenders.
- - Centralized Management: Built's platform helps unify the management of construction and stabilized CRE loans, allowing lenders to access and manage all relevant information from a single system.
- - Improved Decision-Making: The integration enables lenders to access cleaner and more reliable data, significantly enhancing their decision-making capabilities. Frank Iannotti, VP and GM of Lender at Built, notes that this partnership will reduce the time spent on reconciling different systems, allowing tools to focus on making informed choices rather than dealing with backend hurdles.
- - Enhanced Collaboration: By transitioning from disconnected systems to one unified platform, Baker Hill and Built are set to promote better collaboration among teams involved in the lending process, helping to manage risks and keep projects on track.
About Baker Hill
Founded in Carmel, Indiana, Baker Hill stands as a leading commercial lending technology provider serving financial institutions across the United States. Each month, Baker Hill's platform facilitates the processing of more than $7 billion in lending originations, reinforcing its mission to empower banks and credit unions to lend better, faster, and more effectively in their communities. Supported by Flexpoint Ford, they ensure that their offerings meet the modern demands of banking.
About Built
Built's mission focuses on enhancing efficiencies in the commercial real estate sector by combining lenders, property owners, and developers within a shared digital environment. Their platform enables comprehensive management of the loan lifecycle, promoting informed decision-making and effective risk management throughout the process.
In summary, the expanded partnership between Baker Hill and Built represents a formidable advancement in the commercial real estate lending landscape, aiming to foster efficiency, increase visibility, and ensure better overall risk management for financial institutions nationwide.